Antigonish, NS – The defending national champion X-Women rugby team opened the 2017 varsity season with a bang as they defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 105-0 Friday night at StFX Oland Stadium.

The home team exploded for 53 points in the first half en route to the victory in front of over 250 fans.

Miranda Sample (Havelock, QC) scored two tries and Danielle Cormier (Halifax, NS) added another in the opening 16 minutes of the game.

Fifth year center Jaelei Meyer (Carlyle, SK) scored back-to-back tries, followed by June Beals (North Preston, NS), Joanna Alphonso (Ajax, ON) and Sara McCarron (Antigonish, NS). Beals then tallied her second try of the night late in the opening half to round out the major scoring.

Freshman fly half Danielle Franada (Grand Prairie, AB) kicked four conversions as the X-Women easily led 53-0 at halftime.

StFX lost fifth year flanker Brooke Newsome (Brantford, ON) early in the first half with a knee injury.

After subbing in several players in the second half, the X-Women scoring continued. Sophia Parker (Windsor, NS) scored a pair of tries, as did McCarron for three all together on the evening. Beals also had three tries as she scored another in the second half.

Amelia Hatfield (Halifax, NS), Sammy Nadeau (Bewdley, ON) and Franada scored single tries to round out the X-Women scoring in the game. Franada booted six conversions in the second half for 10 on the evening and 25 total points.

Workhorse Carolyn Williams (Orleans, ON) in the lock position earned Subway player of the game honors for the X-Women.

Next on the AUS schedule for StFX is a visit to Charlottetown on Saturday, September 16^th as they will face the UPEI Panthers. The Huskies will host Acadia on Sunday, September 17^th.

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SCORING SUMMARY
SMU 0-0: 0
StFX 53-52: 105 

First half
StFX – Miranda Sample try (Danielle Franada convert), 4^th minute
StFX – Danielle Cormier try, 11^th minute
StFX – Miranda Sample try, 16^th minute
StFX – Jaelei Meyer try (Danielle Franada convert), 18^th minute
StFX – Jaelei Meyer try (22^nd minute)
StFX – June Beals try (Danielle Franada convert), 28^th minute
StFX – Joanna Alphonso (Danielle Franada convert), 31^st minute
StFX – Sara McCarron try, 33^rd minute
StFX – June Beals try, 38^th minute 

Second half
StFX – Sophia Parker try, 44^th minute
StFX – Sara McCarron try (Danielle Franada convert), 46^th minute
StFX – Amelia Hatfield try (Danielle Franada convert), 46^th minute
StFX – Sammy Nadeau try (Danielle Franada convert), 48^th minute
StFX – Sophia Parker try (Danielle Franada convert), 60^th minute
StFX – June Beals try (Danielle Franada convert), 64^th minute
StFX – Danielle Franada try (Danielle Franada convert), 69^th minute
StFX – Sara McCarron try, 76^th minute 

Subway Player of the game
StFX:  Carolyn Williams (Orleans, Ont.) 

Legend:
Try: 5 points
Penalty goal: 3 points
Convert: 2 points