Panthers punch playoff ticket in dominant 72-0 win over Saint Mary’s

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers clinched their spot in the Atlantic University Sport playoffs in emphatic fashion Saturday afternoon, routing the Saint Mary's Huskies 72-0 at home in one of their most complete performances of the season.

It was a statement victory powered by standout performances across the pitch. Emma MacLean and Rowan Gallagher led the offensive onslaught with three tries apiece, while Laurence Cormier added two of her own and orchestrated several scoring sequences with pinpoint offloads and strong support play.

The Panthers set the tone early when Platis accepted an offload from Cormier in the second minute and sprinted 15 yards untouched to make it 7-0 after Cormier's conversion. Minutes later, they struck again off a perfectly worked scrum—Cormier, dished an offload to Sarah Bain, who flicked a short pass to Gallagher, who exploded through the line and sprinted 70 yards for a highlight-reel try to double the lead. 

The Panthers dominated possession and territory for much of the opening half, with their quick support play and relentless offloads overwhelming the Huskies' defence. The potent duo of MacLean and Gallagher took full advantage, scoring back-to-back tries in the 27th and 31st minutes to extend the margin to 26-0. 

MacLean added her second try just before halftime, muscling her way across the goal line to cap a powerful drive that sent UPEI into the break up 33-0. 

The second half was more of the same: speed, precision, and poise. Isabella MacKinnon weaved through multiple tacklers in the 42nd minute to score from close range, while Madeline Landry followed five minutes later, pushing across the line to make it 45-0.

Cormier then took over, scoring back-to-back tries midway through the half. Her second came off an alert play at the ruck where she picked up the loose ball and darted over 40 yards to the try zone to stretch the lead to 57-0. 

Gallagher completed her hat trick in the 65th minute, while MacLean added her third soon after, using her trademark blend of strength and balance to finish from short distance. Kathleen Simpson added the final blow in the dying moments to close out the dominant 72-0 victory.

With the win, UPEI improves to 2-2-1 and officially books its ticket to the postseason. But first, they'll travel to Wolfville, NS next Friday to take on the Acadia Axewomen in the regular season finale.

Photos: Janessa Vanden Broek