Semifinal #1: 2012 Subway AUS women’s rugby championship

October 27, 2012 (ANTIGONISH, N.S.) – The CIS No. 1-ranked StFX X-Women advanced to their 15th  consecutive AUS final with a convincing 92-3 victory over the fourth-seeded UPEI Panthers in the first semifinal of the 2012 Subway AUS women’s rugby championship, Saturday afternoon at Oland Stadium.

The X-Women, a perfect 8-0 in regular season play, dominated the game from start to finish, taking a 66-0 lead into the half-time break.

Natalie Lesco, a first-year center from London, Ont., opened the scoring for the X-Women with a pair of tries in the first two minutes of the game.

Lesco added two more tries in the first half, in the 13th and 34th minute respectively, and was named the Subway player of the game for her efforts.

Magali Harvey, a fourth-year fullback from Quebec City who led the Atlantic conference in scoring this season and was named an AUS all-star Friday, was the offensive star for the winners as she scored 32 points on two tries and 11 converts.

Rounding out the scoring for the 14-time defending champion X-Women were Lisa Gauthier (two tries), Amanda Thornborough (two tries), Sara Kaljuvee (two tries), Emma Taylor (one try) and Danielle Robb (one try).

For the Panthers, Amy Caulier (4th year, Alberton, P.E.I.) got the Panthers on the board with a penalty goal in the 57th minute to make it 78-3 and break the shutout. It was just the second time this season a StFX opponent has managed to score points on the top-ranked team in the country.

The Subway player of the game for UPEI was Olivia Landry (2nd year, Kingston, P.E.I.)

“I thought we came out strong early in the game, which was important for us,” said Subway player of the game Natalie Lesco. “UPEI played tough right until the end but I thought our girls did a good job of keeping the pressure coming, even when we substituted players into the game in the second half. The games will only continue to get tougher, so it’s important for us to stay focused in every game.”

With the win, the X-Women keep their perfect AUS playoff record unblemished, having never lost a post-season game in AUS championship play.

StFX will face the winner of the second semifinal between Acadia and Saint Mary’s in Sunday’s championship game at 2:00pm.

All games of the championship are available via webcast at www.AUStv.ca.

SCORING SUMMARY

UPEI: 0-3: 3
StFX: 66-26: 92

First half
StFX: Natalie Lesco – try, 1st minute (Magali Harvey convert). 7-0
StFX: Natalie Lesco – try, 2nd minute. 12-0
StFX: Lisa Gauthier – try, 9th minute. 17-0
StFX: Emma Taylor – try, 11th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 24-0
StFX: Natalie Lesco – try, 13th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 31-0
StFX: Amanda Thornborough, try, 14th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 38-0
StFX: Amanda Thornborough, try, 27th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 45-0
StFX: Sara Kaljuvee, try, 32nd minute (Magali Harvey convert). 52-0
StFX: Natalie Lesco, try, 35th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 59-0
StFX: Lisa Gauthier, try, 37th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 66-0

Second half
StFX: Magali Harvey, try, 46th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 73-0
UPEI: Amy Caulier, penalty goal, 57th minute. 73-3
StFX: Magali Harvey, try, 59th minute. 78-3
StFX: Danielle Robb, try, 65th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 85-3
StFX: Sara Kaljuvee, try, 78th minute (Magali Harvey convert). 92-3

Subway players of the game
UPEI: Olivia Landry (Kingston, P.E.I.)
StFX: Natalie Lesco (London, Ont.)

Legend:
Try: 5 points
Penalty goal: 3 points
Convert: 2 points


Semifinal #2: 2012 Subway AUS women’s rugby championship:
Axewomen defeat Huskies with 22 unanswered points to join X-Women in AUS final
 
October 27, 2012 (ANTIGONISH, N.S.) – The second-seeded Acadia Axewomen scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Saint Mary’s Huskies 22-7 in the second semifinal of the 2012 Subway AUS women’s rugby championship, Saturday afternoon at Oland Stadium.
 
With the win, the Axewomen join the StFX X-Women in Sunday’s championship final and punch their ticket to the CIS championship next weekend also hosted by StFX University.
 
After a hard fought scoreless first half, Saint Mary’s opened the scoring in the 43rd minute as AUS all-star Jean Baker (2nd year, Argyle Shore, P.E.I.) scored a try and Renee Champagne (3rd year, Burlington, Ont.) added the convert to give the Huskies a 7-0 lead.
 
The Axewomen responded three minutes later when first-year prop Riley Kitchin scored the squad’s first points of the day. Emilie Chiasson, Acadia’s leading scorer this season, missed the ensuing convert to make it 7-5 for the Huskies.
 
At the 57th minute mark, Chiasson, a second-year native of Ottawa, Ont., scored Acadia’s second try of the game and her convert attempt this time was successful after it hit the crossbar and bounced forward through the uprights to give Acadia a 12-7 lead.
 
Subway player of the game Allison Jordan (Fall River, N.S.) added a try in the 66th minute and first-year prop Victoria Pink (Vibank, Sask.) added another try in the 71st minute to round out the scoring for the winners.
 
“It was a rough way to start, losing a key player to injury,” said Acadia head coach Matt Durant, referring to an injury to second-year #8 Janna Slevinsky. “The girls regrouped at the half and played solid defensively. Our captains took leadership roles and really lead the way for the younger girls.”
 
“All told, we have met our objective of making it to the AUS final and the CIS championship, but now the bar is raised and we will need to make some solid improvements if we hope to compete at the highest level next weekend. Overall, a great day for our program.”
 
The AUS conference receives two berths at next week’s CIS championship hosted by StFX and with the win, Acadia will make their first ever appearance at a women’s rugby national championship.
 
The Axewomen, who will now play in their third consecutive AUS final, will once again face top-seeded StFX in Sunday’s championship game. Acadia lost 60-0 in the 2011 final and 57-0 in the 2010 championship game.
 
Sunday`s game time is 2:00pm and will be available via live webcast at www.AUStv.ca.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
 
SMU: 0-7: 7
ACA: 0-22: 22
 
First half
No scoring.
 
Second half
SMU: Jean Baker, try, 43rd minute (Renee Champagne convert). 0-7
ACA: Riley Kitchin, try, 46th minute. 5-7
ACA: Emilie Chiasson, try, 57th minute (Emilie Chiasson convert). 12-7
ACA: Allison Jordan, try, 66th minute. 17-7
ACA: Victoria Fink, try, 71st minute. 22-7
 
Subway player of the game
SMU: Jorie Rose (Souris, P.E.I.)
ACA: Allison Jordan (Fall River, N.S.)

SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Saturday, Oct. 27
Semifinal #1: StFX 92, UPEI 3
Semifinal #2: Acadia vs. Saint Mary’s, 2:00pm (www.AUStv.ca webcast)

Sunday, October 28
Championship final: StFX vs. TBD, 2:00pm (www.AUStv.ca webcast)