U SPORTS No. 6 ranked Axewomen improve to 2-0 win big win over UPEI

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axewomen picked up a 75-5 win over the visiting UPEI Panthers and improve to 2-0 – tied with the undefeated StFX X-Men. 

The U SPORTS No. 6 ranked Axewomen scored two tries in the opening seven minutes and extended their lead to 53-0 by the closing of the first half. 

Acadia would go on to post 12 straight tries before the physical Panthers would score their first and only points of the game. 

Emilie Merilainen and Monique Coffey scored a game high three tries, while teammate Tori Hogan, added two tries. Bailey Dembecki, Annie Kennedy, Emma Pfleiderer, Nicole Pahl and Katya Dondi added one each. 

While the Panthers had trouble getting into scoring range, they played physically as expected. 

"Very physical game. Mostly in the ruck contact, they usually have the biggest contests, so it is always a huge impact. Hurts us and hurts them. They are one of the best competitions we have at the breakdown. One of our most physical games this year, definitely," noted Harley Tucker who was named the AUS Subway Player of the Game. 

Axewomen head coach Matthew Durat was happy with the win and noted how his team has improved steadily from exhibition play to 2-0 start in regular season play. 

"One of the things we worked on from Day 1 was understanding the strengths of our opposition. We knew UPEI has a lot of heart and tries to outwork us at the breakdown and out-ruck us. Our focus all week was to out-work them on the breakdown and out-ruck them and I think we did that for eighty minutes," said Durant. 

Nicole Davies, who picked up the lone try for the Panthers, was named UPEI's Player of the Game. 

The Axewomen are tied with StFX with 2-0 starts. Acadia will travel to Saint Mary's next Saturday afternoon and then will prepare to face the AUS and U SPORTS defending X-Women at home on September 28. 

Recap provided by Acadia Communications