AUS Rugby Playoffs: Acadia advances to AUS final following win over Panthers

Charlotte Branchflower (Halifax, NS) opened the scoring with a penalty goal in the eighth minute. Sarah Gunn (Scotsburn, NS) scored a try, with a Sarah Grant (Melrose, NB) convert to put Acadia ahead 7-3 in the 17th minute.  

Branchflower kicked two more penalty goals in the opening half to regain the lead at 9-7, but that was the last time the Panthers held the lead in the match as Acadia opened up a 17-9 lead by halftime. 

Ebehiremen Otoikhine (Calgary, AB) added to the Axewomen lead, their biggest of the match just seven minutes into the second half. The teams then traded trys for the remainder of the game as Emma MacLean’s (Cole Harbour, NS) try for UPEI was matched by Jenna Gallant (Valley, NS) before Emily Duffy’s (Saint John, NB) try was countered by Juliette Matsukubo (Ottawa, ON).  

Matsukubo led the Acadia offence with 10 points, while Branchflower led UPEI with 11.  

Next Wednesday the Axewomen travel to Antigonish to face STFX in the AUS championship game, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. The champion will advance to the U SPORTS championship, hosted by UPEI from October 30 to November 3.  

SCORING SUMMARY  
ACA: 17-19: 36  
STFX 9-12: 21 

1st HALF  
UPEI – Charlotte Branchflower penalty goal, 8th minute 
ACA – Sarah Gunn try, 17th minute (Sara Grant convert) 
UPEI – Charlotte Branchflower penalty goal, 24th minute 
UPEI – Charlotte Branchflower penalty goal, 31st minute 
ACA – Holly Robinson try, 37th minute  
ACA – Juliette Matsukubo try, 40th minute   

2nd HALF  
ACA – Ebehiremen Otoikhine try, 47th minute (Sara Grant convert) 
PEI – Emma MacLean try, 53rd minute (Charlotte Branchflower convert) 
ACA – Jenna Gallant try, 64th minute (Sarah Grant convert) 
PEI – Emily Duffy try, 69th minute  
ACA – Juliette Matsukubo try, 72nd minute 

Players of the Game:  
ACA – Lucinda Breau 
UPEI – Carla Stewart 

- Release and photo provided by Acadia Athletics