(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The CIS No. 2 ranked and first seeded StFX X-Women advanced to the Subway AUS women's rugby championship game after a convincing 100-0 semifinal victory over the fourth seeded Saint Mary's Huskies Saturday afternoon at Acadia University.
Subway Player of the Game Anna Simonds (Saint John, N.B.) scored 25 points including 10 conversions and one try, as the X-Women scored 100 unanswered points against the Huskies.
The X-Women also hit triple digits against the Huskies last weekend in a 115-0 victory in Antigonish during their final regular season meeting.
Four minutes into the semifinal game, center Breanna Allison (Cole Harbour, N.S.) scored on a converted try to give the X-Women an early 7-0 lead that would set the pace for the eventual win. Allison and Mia Huysmans (Ponoka, Alta.) both posted a team-high three tries apiece on the day.
Jenna Downey (Stratford, Ont.), Sara Gandy (Truro, N.S.) and Lauren Agnew (Stittsville, Ont.) each scored two tries for StFX. Single tries were tallied by Caitlain Blanchard (Halifax, N.S.), Ashley Brooker (Wolfville, N.S.) and Catherine Rutledge (Halifax N.S.).
The X-Women led 52-0 at halftime.
Amy Thompson (Halifax, N.S.) was named the Subway player of the game for Saint Mary's.
X-Women head coach and recently named, AUS Coach of the Year Mike Cavanagh commented, "The girls played a good game and were stronger as the game went on. Full credit is given to Saint Mary's for playing for a full 80 minutes."
As the X-Women move on to the Subway AUS championship final with the convincing win, Cavanagh insists that his team takes each game seriously. "We try and play one game at a time. You can never afford to look too far ahead. We try to show respect to our opposition, whomever we play in the final it will be a tough game."
The defending AUS champion StFX X-Women will meet the second seeded Acadia Axewomen in the final after Acadia's defeated third seeded UPEI 39-12 in other AUS semifinal match.
The two teams met in last year's final which required overtime to finish as StFX claimed a 19-12 win and their 16 consecutive AUS crown. The Axewomen are looking to win their first AUS title on home turf.
The regular season record between the two squads this year saw the X-Women claim a 45-17 victory at Acadia, followed by a 43-12 win at home. Game time on Sunday for the conference final is 3:00 pm at Raymond Field.
SCORING SUMMARY
SMU 0-0: 0
StFX 52-48: 100
First Half
StFX - Breanna Allison try (Anna Simonds convert), 4th minute
StFX - Lauren Agnew try (Anna Simonds convert), 10th minute
StFX - Anna Simonds try, 17th minute
StFX - Caitlain Blanchard try (Anna Simonds convert), 22nd minute
StFX - Ashley Brooker try, 25th minute
StFX - Breanna Allison try (Anna Simonds convert), 34th minute
StFX - Lauren Angnew try (Anna Simonds convert), 36th minute
StFX - Sara Gandy try (Anna Simonds convert), 40th minute
Second Half
StFX - Mia Huysmans try (Anna Simonds convert), 46th minute
StFX - Mia Huysmans try, 50th minute
StFX - Sara Gandy try (Anna Simonds convert), 52nd minute
StFX - Jenna Downey try (Anna Simonds convert), 55th minute
StFX - Catherine Rutledge try, 65th minute
StFX - Mia Huysmans try, 74th minute
StFX - Breanna Allison try, 77th minute
StFX - Jenna Downey try (Anna Simonds convert), 78th minute
Subway Players of the Game
SMU: Amy Thompson (Halifax, NS)
StFX: Anna Simonds (Saint John, N.B.)
Legend:
Try: 5 points
Penalty goal: 3 points
Convert: 2 points
Source: Acadia and StFX Sports Information