X-Women advance to AUS final with 35-15 semi-final victory over Panthers

Photo credit Bryan Kennedy
Photo credit Bryan Kennedy
Posted: Oct 23, 2021

Antigonish, NS - The StFX X-Women fought their way to a spot in both the AUS final and the U SPORTS national championship with a 35-15 victory over the UPEI Panthers in the Subway AUS semi-final game on Saturday afternoon at StFX stadium.

Annie McMullon (Rothesay, NB) opened the scoring for the home team in the second minute of the match after X pushed the ball deep in the Panthers zone. Danielle Franada (Grand Prairie, AB), made the first of her five conversions of the afternoon to put the X-Women up 7-0 early in the game.

It didn't take for UPEI long to answer though, as Charlotte Branchflower (Halifax, NS) split the uprights with a penalty kick making the score 7-3.

The teams battled back and forth with neither team earning a clear advantage until the referees handed X a yellow card and sent a player off for 10 minutes in the 18th minute, giving UPEI the advantage. The Panthers capitalized, with Kristi Stewart (Charlottetown, PE) having a couple strong runs to set up good field position. That field position lead to a try from Branchflower in the 22nd minute, closing the gap to 8-7 in favour of the X-Women.

StFX fought back but felt the affects of some costly turnovers. However, a great run from center Katherine Culligan (Halifax, NS) found paydirt in extra time and another Franada conversion gave the X-Women a 14-8 lead at halftime.

Culligan's slick running game helped lead to another try in the 49th minute as Maddy Ross (Coldbrook, NS) picked up the ball after an X scrum and touched it down for the X-Women's third try of the game. Another Franda conversion made the score 21-8.

An offload from Franada to Culligan in the 67th minute lead to Culligan's second try of the game and Franada's fourth conversion, and a 28-8 score advantage in favour of the blue and white.

The Panthers didn't let the score affect their level of play though, and in the 67th minute, a nice run from Emily Duffy (Saint John, NB) lead to the Panther's second try of the game. A convert from Branchflower made the score 28-15.

Not to be outdone, Franada had a 40 yard run for a try late in the game and made her fifth conversion of the game, making the final 35-15.

Branchflower was named Subway player of the game for the Panthers while Culligan was Subway player of the game for the X-Women.

Speaking after the game, Culligan noted that her team "came into the match after a lot of drive throughout the week in practice."

She said it felt like a team win and that the squad is looking forward to facing Acadia next weekend. "The next week is going to be a lot of determination and hard work in practices," said the second year player.

"We're looking to perfect our team all the way around. We are all really proud of how we played as a team in today's game. I'm just happy to be playing with the team, it was such a great feeling."

With the victory the X-Women advance to take on the first place Acadia Axewomen in the Subway AUS championship game at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 31st in Wolfville.

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Courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Sports Information

SCORING SUMMARY
 UPEI 8-7: 15
STFX 14-21: 35 

1st HALF
 STFX – Annie McMullon try, 2nd minute (Danielle Franada convert)
UPEI – Charlotte Branchflower penalty goal, 6th minute
UPEI – Charlotte Branchflower try, 22nd minute
STFX – Katherine Culligan try, 40th minute (Danielle Franada convert) 

2nd HALF
 STFX – Madison Ross try, 49th minute (Danielle Franada convert)
STFX – Katherine Culligan try, 67th minute (Danielle Franada convert)
UPEI – Emily Duffy try, 76th minute (Charlotte Branchflower convert)
STFX – Danielle Franada try, 78th minute (Danielle Franada convert) 

Players of the Game:
 UPEI – Charlotte Branchflower (Halifax, NS)
STFX – Katherine Culligan (Halifax, NS)