#7 ranked UPEI Panthers defeat Huskies 66-5

HALIFAX, NS—The #7 ranked UPEI Panthers, defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 66-5 on Wednesday evening in Halifax. 

The match, which was rescheduled from Sept. 25 due to Hurricane Fiona, marked the Huskies final home game of the season, and Senior's Night for graduating Huskies Paige Parker (Ellerhouse, NS), Queenel Lubamba (Edmonton, AB), Heather Stanton (Digby, NS) and Brianna Clowater (Moncton, NB), who were honoured pre-game for their contributions to the Huskies rugby program.  

The game was played under the lights of Huskies Stadium on a crisp but clear October night, in front of a healthy crowd of nearly 200 excited fans. 

Just over one minute into the match, a long run by Panthers flanker Brinten Comeau (Halifax, NS) was finished off by centre Sophie Carragher (Stratford, PEI) for the try. Prop Fran MacWilliam (Mill River East, PEI) added a conversion as the Panthers took a 7-0 lead. 

Several minute later, Comeau scored a try of her own, powering the ball across the line from just over five yards out to extend the Panthers lead to 12-0. 

Just over 32 minuets into the action, the Huskies had stopped the Panthers several times on the try line, before hooker Tessa Hood (Charlottetown, PEI) had a nice fake and score, with MacWilliam adding the conversation to extend the Panthers lead to 19-0. 

About six minutes later, the Panthers added to their lead, as Carragher scored her second try of the match, with MacWilliam adding the conversation to give UPEI a 26-0 lead in the 38th minute. The Panthers took a 26-0 lead into the half. 

Just over 10 minutes into the second half, Comeau scored her second try of the match and MacWilliam converted to extend the score to 33-0. 

Less than five minutes later, Panthers second row Nicole Davies (Stratford, PEI) added a try, converted by MacWilliam. 

In the 57th minute, the Huskies hit the scoreboard as prop Devyn Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) powered across the try line to cut the lead to 40-5. 

In the 62nd minute, Panthers prop Emily Duffy scored a try, with MacWilliam converting, pushing the lead to 47-5. 

Just before the 70th minute mark, fly half Charlotte Branchflower (Halifax, NS) got into the scoring with a long run, with MacWilliam adding the conversion to put the Panthers up 54-5. 

In the 73rd minute, wing Lauren Bull (Okotoks, AB) had an impressive 50-yard run for the try, with Charlotte Branchflower adding the conversion. 

Just moments before the final whistle, the Panthers added another try, as flanker Dara MacInnis (New Haven, PEI) sprinted to the corner to extend the lead to 66-5, which would go on to be the final score. 

Panthers fly half Agustina Cohen (Halifax, NS) was recognized as the Subway Player of the Game.  

With the win, the Panthers improved to 3-2 on the season, while the Huskies record dropped to 0-5. 

The two teams will meet again on Saturday afternoon for the final game of the regular season, this time in Charlottetown, PEI, with kick-off scheduled for 2 p.m. AT.

RECAP BY: Allan April, SMU Sports Information / PHOTOS BY: Mona Ghiz