X-Women hold on to win AUS title in Wolfville
(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) The regular season results never really matter in the postseason. The StFX X-Women proved this by defeating the undefeated Acadia Axewomen 42-24 in the AUS Championship game in Wolfville.
(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) The regular season results never really matter in the postseason. The StFX X-Women proved this by defeating the undefeated Acadia Axewomen 42-24 in the AUS Championship game in Wolfville.
The undefeated Axewomen posted two regular-season wins over the X-Women, but today’s win was for all the marbles.
The X-Women went to work right away with two converted tries by Annie McMullon in the opening six minutes.
Madison Ross padded the lead to 21-0 on her first of two tries in the championship game. Her try came at the 18-minute mark. Off the scrum in the Acadia end, Ross found the space to squeeze in a 10-yard sprint for the try. All three StFX tries were converted by Danielle Franada.
The Axewomen responded 28 minutes into the game with a powered push Keisha Kane try and conversion by Sara Grant to close the lead to 21-7.
Ross was quick to reply with StFX’s fourth converted try of the opening half at 33 minutes. Franada added the extra two points on the conversion.
The tables quickly turned in the second half, as Acadia pushed for a comeback. Senior prop Taryn McLachlan got the ball rolling in the first of three unanswered tries by the Axewomen.
McLachlan’s converted try by Sara Grant came five minutes into the second half. Keisha Kane added her second try of the game on a StFX turnover deep in their end. Kane picked up the loose ball and dashed for the end zone.
Sophie Pickard would score the last Axewoman try with less than 23 minutes remaining in the game before the Acadia ran out of steam in what many thought would be a triumphant comeback.
Regaining ball and possession control, the X-Women added two tries – both by second-year X-Woman Tashayla Tynes at the 74 minute and 79-minute mark of the game.
For Tynes’ effort, she was named the Most Valuable Player of the game.
Following the game, second-year StFX scrum-half Madison Ross was lost for words describing how she felt about the win.
“I am kind of at a loss of words right now. It was a big game and definitely, both sides played incredibly well today and all season. Acadia should be really proud,” noted Ross. “We did everything we absolutely could this week to prepare for this moment and I am really glad we could get it through. We really believe in this team and we are really excited about nationals.”
Courtesy of Acadia Athletics