X-Women Rugby defeat Acadia 33-31 to claim AUS championship title

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX X-Women are once again AUS women's rugby champions after a thrilling come from behind 33-31 win over the Acadia Axewomen on Wednesday night at STFX Stadium in front of over 750 fans.

The victory marks the 24^th AUS title for the X-Women, as they look ahead to the U SPORTS national championship October 29^th to November 2nd in Vancouver, where they will be joined by the Axewomen, who also qualify for nationals.  

The Axewomen got on the scoreboard 90 seconds into the match, with Sarah Williston touching down for the try and Sarah Gunn converting.

The X-Women replied four minutes later though, as Alison LeBlanc notched the try and Katie Murphy kicked the conversion.  

Emma-Claire Heaslip put an unconverted try on the board for Acadia in the 16^th minute, followed by Olivia Savoie scoring again for the Axewomen. A second conversion by Gunn gave the visitors a 19-7 lead midway through the first half.

AUS all-star prop Jessie Penney replied with back-to-back tries in the 30^th and 37^th minutes, with Murphy converting the one of them to knot the game at 19-19.

Kendra McDonell added another try for the X-Women in the final moments of the first half, and Murphy's third convert gave STFX a 26-19 lead at halftime.

Penney, the leading scorer in U SPORTS this season was knocked out of the game with a hard collision and was unable to continue.

Her fellow prop Val vonMuehldorfer pulled STFX further ahead with a try scored in the 59^th minute, with Murphy kicking what end up being the game winning conversion.  

Despite being down 33-19, the gritty Axewomen never gave up and Samantha Reid touched down for an unconverted try in the 63^rd minute.

AUS most valuable player Brielynn Murrant scored for Acadia again in extra time and a quickly booted convert by Gunn pulled the visitors to within two points. Time ran out in the tightly contested match, however and STFX walked away victorious.  

Acadia fly half Sarah Gunn was named the Boston Pizza Player of the Game for her squad, while STFX prop Val VonMuehldorfer took home similar honours for the X-Women and was also named championship MVP.

Both teams will represent the AUS conference at the U SPORTS championship being hosted by UBC next week.

-30-

Recap courtesy STFX Athletics

SCORING SUMMARY
ACA 19-12: 31
STFX 26-7:33 

1^st HALF
ACA – Sarah Williston try, 1^st minute (Sarah Gunn convert)
STFX – Allison LeBlanc try, 5^th minute (Katie Murphy convert)
ACA – Emma-Claire Heaslip try, 16^th minute
ACA – Olivia Savoie try, 24^th minute (Sarah Gunn convert)
STFX – Jessie Penney try, 30^th minute (Katie Murphy convert)
STFX – Jessie Penney try, 37^th minute
STFX – Kendra McDonell try, 40^th minute (Katie Murphy convert) 

2^nd HALF
STFX – Val VonMuehldorfer try, 58^th minute (Katie Murphy convert)
ACA – Samantha Reid try, 63^rd minute
ACA – Brielynn Murrant try, 80th minute (Sarah Gunn convert)

Boston Pizza Players of the Game:
ACA – Sarah Gunn
STFX – Val VonMuehldorfer