WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Axewomen rugby team squeaked past the visiting U SPORTS No. 7 ranked UPEI Panthers to even the score on the season between the two teams.
The Axewomen picked up an important win to remain in the running to host a playoff game with two regular season games remaining. They improve to 3-1, while the UPEI Panthers will deal with two losses in a row and a 2-2 record.
The strong Panther club was the first to post a try. Brinten Comeau (Halifax, N.S.) led the UPEI maul and Frances MacWilliam (Mill River East, P.E.I.) converted the try for an early 7-0 lead in the 19th minute.
Trailing in the closing minute of the opening half, the Axewomen opted for a 10-yard field goal knowing that points would be difficult to come by against the stingy Panthers.
Both teams came out of the gates on fire in the second half.
Axewoman Juliette Matsukubo (Ottawa, Ont.) had a 30 sprint to the try line in the 42nd minute, scoring her seventh try in four games.
Trailing the Axewomen 8-7, Brinten Comeau, who was named the UPEI Player of the Game, scored her second try of the match on a short dive over the try line to take back the lead – 12-8 in the 52nd minute.
Three minutes after the Panthers regained the lead, Kenzie Cecchetto (Newport, N.S.) showed a beautiful fake pass and took the ball in for Acadia's second try and a 13-12 lead after the conversion was missed.
At the 72-minute mark, Emily Duffy (Saint John, N.B.) scored the Panthers' third try and was also awarded a penalty try for a high tackle to regain the lead at 19-13.
With just over three minutes remaining in regulation time, Acadia's Sara Grant (Melrose, Alta.) broke out of a pack for a 20+ sprint to the try line for five points and added the conversion to give Acadia a 20-19 lead in the dying moments of a see-saw battle.
"UPEI is a really hard attacking team and defensive team. They are really good at poaching the ball, so our main discipline was to support our players and make sure we can keep possession for most of the game", noted senior Axewoman Katya Dondi (Caledon, Ont.).
Dondi was named the AUS Subway Player of the Game for her effort in the win.
The Axewomen host STFX on Wednesday, Oct. 12 – at 7 pm – make up game for one that was canceled due to Hurricane Fiona, while the Panthers travel to Saint Mary's on Wednesday for a make-up game.