(CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I.) On a day when the 2022 AUS women's rugby champions unveiled their banner in front of a large home crowd, the 2023 edition of the UPEI Panthers did their part, defeating the Acadia Axewomen 27-15.
And just like last season's final against the same opponent, the Panthers (1-0) did their damage in the second half, outscoring the Axewomen (0-1) 20-5 to capture their first win of the year.
After the game, Tessa Hood spoke about the emotions of a day she will remember for a long time.
"I loved the banner reveal. Seeing the girls that are now alumni come to the pitch today meant more than they'll ever know. It just goes to show the family we've become and the support we have," said Hood, who's been with the Panthers since 2018. "I hope that the banner signifies all the patience, hard work and grit that women's rugby has put forward throughout the years."
Emotions were running high with the pre-game ceremony and the game being the home opener, and it showed on the field, as the Panthers were admittedly anxious before the opening kickoff.
In the opening minutes of the game, Acadia struck first when Katya Dondi found a hole and broke through it for 60 yards before offloading it to Juliette Masukobo, who took it the final five yards for the try and an early 5-0 advantage.
"The nerves got to us a bit at the start, but once we settled down, we got to them," said Jorja Cook, who named the Player of the Game after scoring seven points on a pair of conversions and a penalty kick. "We made some smart tactical decisions in the second half which off in the end."
UPEI responded in the 12th minute when Olivia McLeod eventually bulled her way over for a converted try to give them a 7-5 lead.
However, that was short-lived, as Acadia's Olivia Savoie responded quickly with a try to make it 10-7.
Acadia was marching down the field again late in the half, but the Panthers denied them a score and kept the deficit to just three heading into the break.
"I saw a group that were all on their feet and all willing to compete," said Panthers head coach James Voye. "They're a smart group. They have a high rugby IQ and know what a 10-7 game means and what giving up a try in that moment means."
From there, the Panthers simply took over. In the 52nd minute, Carla Stewart emerged from a maul and dove past the line for her first of two tries to pull her team in front 12-10. Eight minutes later, Cook added a penalty kick to make it 15-10.
UPEI got a huge boost from AUS all-star and U SPORTS all-Canadian Emily Duffy, who came off the bench (as she still recovers from a ruptured Achilles injury from a year ago) and dominated in her brief stint. Duffy showed off her strength in the 67th minute when she willed her way across the line for the converted try.
Stewart then put the game in the 76th minute with the team's fourth try of the afternoon. Acadia's Lucy Caldwell added one late, but the damage was already done as they fell 27-15.
The Panthers travel to Halifax next Saturday where they'll take on the Saint Mary's Huskies, while the Axewomen return home for a game against the STFX X-Women.
Source: Thomas Becker for UPEI Panthers Communications