LETHBRIDGE, Alta. (U SPORTS) – Facing the defending national champion and top StFX X-Women in the fourth semifinal of day one of the U SPORTS women's rugby championship, the Lethbridge Pronghorns, seeded-eighth, dropped a 39-12 decision.
 
StFX will now face the Laval Rouge et Or in the second semifinal, Friday evening at 5:00pm. Lethbridge will face the Guelph Gryphons in the second consolation semi-final at 1:00pm.
 
"It was really tough tonight, our girls played pretty bravely," said head coach Neil Langevin. "We played a really good team, there is a reason they are the defending national champions."
 
"They are big and physical and stuck to their game plan, choked us of the ball and grounded and pounded us into the submission."
 
"I am actually really proud of the girls, they were very brave at times," Langevin talking about the team's defensive effort.
 
Three minutes into the game, the top ranked X-Women took advantage of a Pronghorn penalty deep in the offensive end, with Danielle Cormier touching down the ball to open the scoring. AUS-leading scorer Danielle Franada mad the convert to put StFX up 7-0.
 
Nine minutes later, off another Pronghorn penalty, a StFX scrum pushed the Pronghorns back from 10 yards and scrum half Alison Blanchard picked up the second try for the X-Women, pushing the lead to 12-0.
 
Following a strong push by the Pronghorns in the middle of the half, StFX pushed the Pronghorns deep into their own end again, but strong defending by the Pronghorns kept the X-Women out of the endzone for an extended period.
 
With five minutes remaining and the Pronghorns pinned on their goal line, StFX was awarded a penalty try, putting the X-Women up 19-0.
 
After the restart, StFX pressed the Pronghorns back deep into their own end again and Sara McCarron scored the X-Women's fourth try in the 38^th minute to up the lead to 24-0.
 
Lethbridge was finally able to get on the scoreboard only three minutes later. Sydney De La Mare was able break a tackle 25 yards out and rumble in for the Pronghorns' first try. Caitlin Sears hit the convert to make the score 24-7.
 
Any thoughts of a Pronghorn comeback in the second half were quickly put to rest. Off the kick-off, StFX pinned the Pronghorns deep again and off another penalty, StFX scored again. Taking a quick tap, Joanna Alphonso crashed into the Lethbridge defence and in for the try. The convert was missed to up StFX's lead to 29-7.
 
Not wanting to go away quietly, Lethbridge responded right back, as senior Brittany Orr was able to touch down the ball in the corner of the end zone. The convert was missed from the wide angle and with 16 minutes remaining the Pronghorns trailed 29-12.
 
Showing their power again, a StFX scrum from 10 yards pushed right into the Pronghorn endzone and Miranda Sample was credited with the try. Sub Alexandra Hamilton rounded out the scoring with a try with two minutes to play.
 
 
Scoring Summary
 
 
First half
 
3' St. FX Danielle Cormier Try – convert made (Danielle Franada) 7-0
12' St. FX Allison Blanchard Try – convert missed 12-0
29' St. FX penalty try – 19-0
 
Second half
 
38' St. FX Sara McCarron Try – convert missed 24-0
41^' Lethbridge Sydney De La Mare Try – convert made (Caitlin Sears) 24-7
49' St. FX Joanna Alphonso Try – convert missed 29-7
54' Lethbridge Brittany Orr Try – convert missed 29-12
61' St. FX Miranda Sample Try – convert missed 34-12
68' St. FX Alexandra Hamilton Try – convert missed 39-12