WOLFVILLE, N.S. – 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.
2016 AUS Most Valuable Player, Joanna Alphonzo, led StFX by posting three tries in the X-Women's 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 on converted try to close the Axewomen lead to 7-5.
Less than two minutes the X-Women replied their first try with a second by the AUS Subway Player of the Game Hannah Ellis which was 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 to Alphonso who rumbled 35 yards for the try and a 17-12 lead.
The X-Women would maintain a lead over Acadia for the remaining 58 minutes.
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 would add a try each at the 70th and 73rd minutes. Franada converted her own try for the last points scored in the match.
The Axewomen finished the AUS regular season with a 4-2 record.
The StFX X-Women will await the winner of the AUS Semi-Final series between UPEI and Acadia tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 20th at 6:00 p.m. at Acadia's Raymond Field.
Note: Acadia celebrated Seniors Day, congratulating eventual graduating seniors Tamara Dondi, Angela Govier, Lauren Humby, Natasha Wotton and Danielle Wisen along with graduating student assistant athletic therapist Sara Pyke.
Scoring Summary:
First Half
ACA 1 min. Try by Bailey Dembicki, converted by Laura Pfleiderer 7-0 ACA
StFX 11 min. Try by Miranda Sample 7-5 ACA
StFX 13 min. Try by Hannah Ellis, converted by Danielle Franada 12-7 StFX
ACA 17 min. Try by Tamara Dondi 12-12
StFX 22 min. Try by Joanna Alphonso 17-12 StFX
StFX 28 min. Try by Amelia Hatfield 22-12 StFX
StFX 34 min. Try by June Beals 27-12 StFX
Second Half
StFX 48 min. Try by Joanna Alphonso 32-12 StFX
StFX 53 min. Try by Joanna Alphonso, converted by Danielle Franada 39-12 StFX
StFX 70 min. Try by Carleigh Walters 44-12 StFX
StFX 74 min. Try and converted by Danielle Franada 51-12 StFX