Lethbridge – Coming off a disappointing loss in the opening game of the CIS Rugby Championships, the Lethbridge Pronghorns rebounded with a solid team effort and defeated St. FX 20-12.
 
The win moved the 'Horns into the fifth place game tomorrow morning and will face the winner of the game between the Canada West Champion Victoria Vikes and AUS Champion Acadia Axemen.
 
Fisay Latilo, Nicole Ronsky and Sarah Gordon scored tries for the 'Horns, while Gordon also hit a drop goal and a convert in the win.
 
"On behalf of the coaching staff, we are really proud of our team today," said head coach Ric Suggitt. "They demonstrated their intelligence and courage today making tackles today; that is a big hard running team."
 
"Our older players, fourth and fifth year players led by example today and our first-year players showed a lot of enthusiasm and that is a recipe for success."
 
In a rematch of the 2008 and 2009 CIS Championship games, the 'Horns marched down the field and opened the scoring only minutes into the game. Gordon hit a drop kick from 22 metres out to give the 'Horns a 3-0 lead.
 
For the next 20 minutes, St. FX put the 'Horns back on their heels but precision tackling and strong defensive pushes kept St. FX out of the end zone for nearly 15 minutes.
 
St. FX finally pushed through with in the 27^th minute with Lauren Agnew touching the ball down and with the convert made, St. FX took a 7-3 lead.
 
However, that lead would not last long, Fisayo Latilo scored almost immediately following the St. FX try and Gordon hit her only convert of the game to push the 'Horns up 10-7.
 
Before the half was up, Nicole Ronsky scored on a great individual effort, racing away from St. FX defenders and put the 'Horns up 15-7 at the break.
 
In the second, both teams had their opportunities to get on the score board but solid tackling and stray passes stopped any momentum in the early part of the half.
 
After missing a penalty kick, Sarah Gordon atoned for the miss with a try of her own to put the 'Horns up 20-7 with 10 minutes remaining.
 
To their credit, the X-Women would not go away quietly and Cyra Humber brought St. FX with in eight points, but that would be as close as they would get as the 'Horns shut down all St. FX attacks in the final five minutes.
 
"I never thought that today would be my last game because I knew our girls would play well enough today to be in the game tomorrow," said fifth-year backrow Bailey Campbell. "We played with heart, determination and like a family today and that is all I could ask for."
 
 
Kick-off for tomorrow's fifth place game is set for 11:00am Eastern time and will be webcast on http://portal.stretchinternet.com/cis/.