X-Women cap off 6-0 season with win over Axewomen

Photo courtesy Acadia Athletics
Photo courtesy Acadia Athletics

WOLFVILLE, NS – The U SPORTS No. 1 ranked StFX X-Women finished the AUS regular season with a 6-0 record, capped by a 51-12 win over the second place Acadia Axewomen.

Joanna Alphonso, the 2016 AUS most valuable player, led StFX by posting three tries in the win.

The Axewomen opened the game with an early try by Bailey Dembicki on a series that showcased great passing and outside play. Laura Pfleiderer converted the try.

The X-Women responded ten minutes later, when Miranda Sample scored an unconverted try to close the Axewomen lead to 7-5.

Less than two minutes the X-Women replied with their second try, scored by the Subway Player of the Game Hannah Ellis and converted by Danielle Franada.

Trailing 12-7, Acadia responded four minutes later when senior Tamara Dondi picked up a lose pass by Laura Pfleiderer and tied the game at 12.

A strong inside game led by Alphonso began to dominate the last twenty minutes of the first half. Alphonso posted her first of three tries at the 22-minute mark, off of a quick pop from the line-out as she rumbled 35 yards for the score and a 17-12 lead.

The X-Women would maintain the lead over Axewomen for the remaining 58 minutes of play.

Two tries by StFX at the 28 and 34 minute marks of the first half by Amelia Hatfield and June Beals, respectively, would be the last of the X-Women scoring in the first half.

Alphonso scored her last two tries in the opening 13 minutes of the second half with Danielle Franada converting one, to give the X-Women a commanding 39-12 lead.

Carleigh Walters and Danielle Franada added a try each at the 70th and 73rd minutes. Franada converted her own try for the last points scored in the match.

The AUS semi-final game between UPEI and Acadia will be played Friday, October 20th at 6:00 pm at Acadia's Raymond Field. The winner will advance to meet the first place X-Women in the Subway AUS championship game on Friday, October 27th at 6:00 pm at StFX Oland Stadium in Antigonish.

-30- 

Scoring Summary:

First Half
ACA       1 min.    Try by Bailey Dembicki, converted by Laura Pfleiderer
StFX       11 min. Try by Miranda Sample
StFX       13 min. Try by Hannah Ellis, converted by Danielle Franada
ACA       17 min. Try by Tamara Dondi
StFX       22 min. Try by Joanna Alphonso
StFX       28 min. Try by Amelia Hatfield
StFX       34 min. Try by June Beals

Second Half
StFX       48 min. Try by Joanna Alphonso                                                                               
StFX       53 min. Try by Joanna Alphonso, converted by Danielle Franada                
StFX       70 min. Try by Carleigh Walters                                                                  
StFX       74 min. Try and converted by Danielle Franada