The St. Thomas women’s rugby team will be playing in the championship game against Mount Allison University after defeating the Dalhousie AC Rams 57-5 in Thursday’s semi-final.
Graduating player Jaycee Bihun said if they win, “it would send a message that STU woman’s rugby is still a competitive team that St. Thomas and ourselves can take pride in.”
Hillary Shields scored a hat trick for the Tommies with a three try performance. Taylor Dube returned to the pitch scoring two tries after a hand injury put her out for the past month of play. Kiersten Steeves, Emma Jones, and second row Emily Cusack all got over the line, as well as winger Kaitlin Gamble after the team tore open the Rams defense. Steeves added six conversions for 17 points.
The win sets up a final on Saturday in Sackville where the Tommies will face the Mounties for the third time this season. After falling 24-12 to the Mounties in the first game of the season, STU turned it around to claim a 15-5 victory, giving each team a win at home.
The win tops of the final home game of the season for STU, and the final time graduates Kiersten Steeves, Kaitlin Gamble, Hillary Shields and Jaycee Bihun don the green and gold on Fredericton soil.
The Tommies head back to the finals after struggling in the AUS division. After two years without a win, they returned to the ACAA and will play for the banner at Saturday.
“I think those less successful years really did help us grow as a team. It taught us to boost each other up instead of tearing each other down,” Bihun said. “My first year playing we won the ACAA Championship against MTA, and I’d really love to end the way I started.”
