Truro, NS – The defending U SPORTS national champion X-Women rugby team took to the field Saturday in pre-season exhibition action in Truro at the AUS Invitational tournament.
The team was split into a white squad and blue squad with each playing two games, and the X-Women showed their AUS opponents that they will be a national contender again this year, with a lopsided 255 points scored for, to only seven points scored against in the four games.
The X-Women 'white' team defeated Saint Mary's 82-0 and St. Thomas 68-0, while the 'blue' team defeated Acadia 29-7 and UPEI 76-0.
In the win over Saint Mary's, freshman Center Sara Hoerig (Whitby, ON) exploded for five tries for the X-Women. Jaelei Meyer (Carlyle, SK) and Jacqui Salvatore (Scarborough, ON) each scored two tries a piece, while single tries were scored by Sarah McCarron (Antigonish, NS), Katie Pentz (Trenton, NS), Sophie Parker (Windsor, NS), Lucy Killacky (Wolfville, NS) and Carleigh Walters (Williams Lake, BC). Maggie MacDonald (Ottawa, ON) booted six conversions for the X-Women.
In the 68-0 win over St. Thomas, McCarron scored three tries, and Christine Dyjur (Sherwood Park, AB), Salvatore and Meyer each had two. Killacky, Hoerig and Walters added single scores and MacDonald had four conversions in the game.
The X-Women blue team played a hard-fought game against Acadia, coming out on top 29-7. Reigning AUS most valuable player Joanna Alphonso (Ajax, ON) scored a pair of tries for X, with single tries scored by Amelia Hatfield (Halifax, NS), Miranda Sample (Havelock, QC) and Danielle Franada (Grand Prairie, AB). Franada also kicked a pair of conversions.
In the 76-0 victory over UPEI, Alphonso scored another two tries. Kalece O'Regan (Charlottetown, PE) and Sammy Nadeau (Bewdley, ON) scored two tries in the game, with singles being scored by Hatfield, Sample, Parker, Anna Horner (Stouffville, ON), Merrit Blair (Ottawa, ON), and Brooke Newsome (Brantford, ON). Franada contributed 16 points in the win with eight conversions.
The X-Women will open up AUS regular season play on Friday night, September 8th at home. Kick-off is slated for 7:00 pm at StFX Oland Stadium.