Glory and Gratitude: X-Women Rugby Captures AUS Championship Before Saying Goodbye to Veteran Core

After an undefeated regular season, the StFX X-Women capped off their dominant run with a thrilling 33-31 victory over the Acadia Axewomen to capture their 24th AUS title.

Prior to kickoff, AUS All-Stars Jessie Penney, Kendra McDonell, Akwaima Akpan, and Shona Galloway were recognized for their outstanding seasons. The X-Women had a near sweep of the conference’s major awards, with Brown’nesha Willis Glasgow named Rookie of the Year, Katie Murphy earning the Community Service Award, and head coach Mike Cavanagh honoured as AUS Coach of the Year. Their victory was complete with tries from Leblanc, Penney (2), K. McDonell, and von Mueldorfer, along with four conversions from Murphy. For her outstanding play, von Mueldorfer was named Championship MVP.

At the U SPORTS National Championships in Vancouver, BC, the X-Women fell 45-21 in the quarter final to the Guelph Gryphons, with X-Women tries scored by Koyote, Gottselig, and Penney, and conversions completed by Murphy, and Leblanc (2). In the consolation semifinal, the X-Women fell 55-3 to the Ottawa GeeGees, closing the season with a 6-2-1 record. Penney and Gottselig from the X-Women were named Nike Team Players of the Game for their strong performances.

Thursday night at the U SPORTS National banquet, Penney and Akpan were named U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadians, while von Mueldorfer received the Holmes Memorial Award for her off-field contributions to the game of rugby at her university and in her community.

These national honours provided a fitting end to a memorable season for the X-Women, who will also bid farewell to a large class of graduating players, whose dedication has shaped the program’s ongoing success: Akwaima Akpan, Emily Dodge, Megan Finlay, Courtney Gottselig, Jillian Griffith, Skye Koyote, Kendra McDonell, Michaela Moreau, Katie Murphy, Jill Sanford, Olivia Villamere, Val von Mueldorfer, and Sierra Wood.

Reflecting on her time with the team, fourth-year prop and graduating player Val von Mueldorfer shared, “I leave this team with fond memories of late-night practices, hard-fought games, two white hats, and lifelong friendships. It is truly a privilege to have spent my four years at StFX as a member of the X-Women rugby team, and I am so grateful for my experience. Top Left”.