2012 SEASON RECAP
The StFX University X-Women claimed the 2012 Monilex trophy with a 37-0 victory over Guelph in the CIS championship game hosted on home soil at StFX Oland Stadium. The win marked their third national title in team history, having previously won gold in 2010 and 2006. StFX also earned victories over Queen's (53-10) and Concordia (40-0) in pool play.
CIS All-Canadian No. 8 Tyson Beukeboom earned tournament all-star and tournament MVP honors, with six other X-Women also being honoured as tournament all-stars.
The CIS ranked No. 1 StFX University X-Women entered the 2012 CIS championship as 15-time defending AUS champions and 2011 CIS silver medalists. StFX returned to the championship for the 15th consecutive year as the reigning AUS champions and host team. They are the only team in the Atlantic conference to win the AUS title since the inception of the AUS women’s rugby league. This year they defeated the Acadia Axewomen 72-0 in the AUS championship game and won the Birks Memorial Trophy at home at StFX Oland Stadium.
The X-Women sported a perfect 8-0 record in league play to finish first overall in the AUS conference, scoring a whopping 657 points for and allowing a mere three points against. They led the conference in tries scored (109) and conversions (56). Their 657 points scored surpassed the AUS single season record of 416 set by the 2008 StFX squad, and their 109 tries scored broke the 2010 AUS record (68), also held by the X-Women. In exhibition non-conference play this season, the X-Women were 10-0, capping off a perfect 18-0 season.
The X-Women were led this season by nine AUS all-stars, including three-time defending AUS most valuable player Tyson Beukeboom in the number 8 position. A two-time CIS All Canadian, and last year’s AUS nominee for the BLG award for CIS athlete of the year, Beukeboom was fourth in conference scoring with 60 points. Two-time All-Canadian fullback Magali Harvey led the conference in scoring with 145 points (11 tries, 45 conversions). She broke the AUS single season records for points (135) and conversions (37) previously set by StFX’s Courtnay Malcolm in 2008.
Three-time AUS all-star winger Amanda Thornborough led the AUS in tries scored with 13 and was third overall in conference scoring. Center Lisa Gauthier, a 2011 CIS All-Canadian and three-time AUS all-star scored 35 points this season, as did five-year veteran captain Asya Bartley from the prop position. Rounding out the AUS all stars are prop Olivia DeMerchant, a two-time AUS all-star along with first time all-stars Sara Kaljuvee (center), Lisa McGrath (second row) and Emma Taylor (second row).
The X-Women are guided by the 2012 CIS and AUS Coach of the Year Mike Cavanagh, currently in his 14th season. Cavanagh is a seven-time AUS Coach of the Year and was also the 2001 CIS Coach of the Year. Since 2002, Cavanagh's career record stands at 63-1-2 in regular season play and 81-17-5 overall (regular season, AUS & CIS playoffs). The X-Women have been ranked No. 1 in the CIS Top 10 every week this season for eight consecutive weeks, along with all eight weeks of the 2011 campaign.
2012 CIS CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES
Championship Record: 3 wins and 0 losses
Round Robin: Defeated Queen's 53-10 and Concordia 40-0
Gold Medal Game: Defeated Guelph 37-0
2012 AWARDS
CIS All-Canadians: Tyson Beukeboom, Magali Harvey, Amanda Thornborough
CIS Coach of the Year: Mike Cavanagh
CIS Tournament All-Stars: Asya Bartley, Tyson Beukeboom, Magali Harvey, Sara Kaljuvee, Beth McNeill, Emma Taylor, Amanda Thornborough
CIS Tournament MVP: Tyson Beukeboom
AUS Most Valuable Player: Tyson Beukeboom
AUS Coach of the Year: Mike Cavanagh
AUS All-Stars: Asya Bartley, Tyson Beukeboom, Olivia DeMerchant, Lisa Gauthier, Magali Harvey, Sara Kaljuvee, Lisa McGrath, Emma Taylor and Amanda Thornborough
2012 AUS NOTES
AUS Regular Season Record: 8 wins, 0 losses
AUS Regular Season Standing: 1st place, 16 points
AUS Playoff Record: 2 wins and 0 losses
Defeated UPEI 92-3 in AUS semifinal
Defeated Acadia 72-0 in AUS final