Panthers repeat history with win over STFX in home opener
Almost a year to the day, the UPEI Panthers stunned the STFX X-Women 38-31 which ended a 17-year winless drought against the formidable foe. Saturday afternoon, they pulled off the feat again, as they defeated the X-Women 32-5.
(Charlottetown, PE) - Almost a year to the day, the UPEI Panthers stunned the STFX X-Women 38-31 which ended a 17-year winless drought against the formidable foe. Saturday afternoon, they pulled off the feat again, as they defeated the X-Women 32-5.
But this one felt different. Last year, the Panthers held on for dear life. This year, there was a level of confidence amongst the team that wasn't really there before and it showed in the convincing win.
UPEI head coach James Voye described the win as "dominant."
"This year's squad is a more focused group and really paying attention to the gameplan and it showed today," he said. "It was more dominant performance this year where it wasn't the story of two halves. We complete control of the game."
Emily McKenna (Summerside, PE) got things off to a positive start for the Panthers as she took a pass and ran it about 25 yards before offloading it to Brinten Comeau (Halifax, NS), who carried it the final 22 yards for the season's opening try and a quick 7-0 lead.
Moments after a Frances MacWilliam (Mill River East, PE) made it 10-0 with a penalty kick, Sophie Carragher (Stratford, PE) found some space and used her speed and strength to drive 30 yards for the try to extend the lead to 17-0.
MacWilliam added another penalty kick to give UPEI a 20-0 advantage at halftime.
Nine minutes into the second half, Mia Fradsham (Marshfield, PE) received a pass and bolted 50 yards before she was hauled down. Later in the possession, Fradsham gathered the ball from the scrum and spun it over to Emily Duffy (Saint John, NB), who barrelled her way through the STFX defence for the five-yard try, pushing the lead to 27-0.
Duffy was at it again the 28th minute when she took a pass from Fradsham and pushed her way 22 yards for her second try of the contest.
STFX's Camryn Kleynhans (Wellington, ON) added a try late, but it was too late to mount a comeback, as the Panthers took their home opener 32-5.
MacWilliam converted five-of-six (three conversions and two penalty kicks) and finished with a game-high 12 points.
The Panthers look to start the season 2-0 when they host the Acadia Axewomen Sept. 17 at 2 p.m., while the X-Women welcome the Saint Mary's Huskies in their home opener on Friday night, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m.
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Recap courtesy Thomas Becker, UPEI Sports Information