X-Women earn convincing 63-10 Homecoming win over Huskies

Antigonish, NS – The U SPORTS No. 9 ranked STFX X-Women earned a convincing 63-10 win in front of 250 passionate fans on Homecoming Sunday at STFX Stadium. With the win the X-Women improve to 4-1 on the season, clinching a playoff berth, while the Huskies drop to 0-5.

Six different X-Women scored tries in the first half as the defending AUS champions got out to a 38-5 lead after 40 minutes.

After the Huskies had a big opening drive, the X-Women took possession and forced some big pushes down the field. Emily Dodge opened the scoring and Katie Murphy made good on the conversion two minutes into play.

Jillian Griffith had a breakout run four minutes later and pushed through the line of Huskies defenders to score the second X try. Murphy's conversion gave the home squad an early 14-0 lead.

Saint Mary's finally broke through the X-Women defense in the 13^th minute and Meaghan Brown crossed the line for an unconverted try.

The remainder of the half was all STFX as Skye Koyote, Kendra McDonell, Janet Kennedy, and Katie Douglas all scored tries. Murphy made good on two more converts to bring the score to 38-5 at the half.

The X-Women were solid on both sides of the ball, while the Huskies struggled to mount an offensive attack.

In the second half the Blue and White picked up where they left off as Sophie Beck scored an uncoverted try just two minutes in.

The Huskies were pressuring for a score of their own but the STFX defense held strong. SMU had a couple drive attempts but were unsuccessful.

X-Women prop Jessie Penney, who came into the game in the second half, scored the first of two tries in the game in the 54^th minute, carrying the ball over after some swift X passes. The unconverted try gave the X-Women a 48-5 lead.

Huskies scrum half Katherine Fairbrother had a big run for her squad, making it the five-yard line before STFX's Koyote caught up for a big defensive tackle.

They did get on the board in the 63^rd minute with an unconcerted try from Lacey Bellefontaine, but Penney responded with another STFX try five minutes later to push the X lead to 58-10.

The Huskies had a big defensive push in the final minutes of play in the fast-paced second half, but in the end the X-Women's speed and agility was too powerful.

STFX's scoring rounded out with a final unconverted try from Val VonMuehldorfer in the final minute of play to close out the 63-10 victory.

Third year second row Rian Murphy garnered player of the game honours for the Huskies, while STFX's Skye Koyote was the Gabriel Pizza player of the game.

The Huskies will be back in action on Friday, October 11^th when they host UPEI in a 7:00 pm game.

The X-Women will also close out the season at home, hosting Acadia on Saturday, October 12^th at 2:00 pm. Next weekend's games mark the final matches of regular season play.

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Recap courtesy STFX Athletics

SCORING SUMMARY
UPEI 5-5: 10
STFX 38-25: 63

1st HALF
STFX – Emily Dodge, 2^nd minute (Katie Murphy convert)
STFX – Jillian Griffith, 6^th minute (Katie Murphy convert)
SMU – Meaghan Brown, 13^th minute
STFX – Skye Koyote, 17^th minute (Katie Murphy convert)
STFX – Kendra McDonell, 25^th minute (Katie Murphy convert)
STFX – Janet Kennedy, 30^th minute
STFX – Katie Douglas, 33^rd minute

2nd HALF
STFX – Sophie Beck, 42^nd minute
STFX – Jessie Penney, 54^th minute
STFX – Janet Kennedy, 57^th minute
SMU – Lacey Bellefontaine, 63^rd minute
STFX – Jessie Penney, 68^th minute
STFX – Val VonMuehldorfer, 80^th minute

Players of the Game:
SMU: Rian Murphy
STFX: Skye Koyote