X-Women Cap Perfect Regular Season with AUS Championship

Collective belief, patience, and a team-first mentality drove the X-Women to new heights in the 2023 AUS season. In an increasingly competitive conference, the team’s balance of veteran experience and new perspectives pushed the X-Women to their first AUS title since 2016.

The X-Women embraced a new game model that saw the team control the tempo of games and have more of the ball, averaging nearly 62%possession, leading them to a perfect 12-0-0 record in the regular season. Led by veteran captain Amanda Smith with 22 goals (2nd in AUS history), the X-Women kept the crowd excited by scoring 48 goals throughout the regular season campaign (3rd in AUS history). The high-flying offence was balanced with ferocious team defending as the X-Women only conceded an AUS record of three goals.

After defeating the Memorial Seahawks in the semi-finals, the X-Women lifted the AUS banner in a dramatic, come-from-behind victory over the CBU Capers after third-year Brynn Jurus slotted home the championship winning goal in the 81st minute. At the U SPORTS national tournament in Kingston, the X-Women fell to University of Montreal and University of Ottawa in two closely contested games.

Amanda Smith, Abby Steen, Caitlin Crichton, and Brynn Jurus were honoured as First Team AUS All-Stars, while Christina Gentile and Cheyenne Bower were recognized as Second Team AUS All-Stars. On the national level, Amanda Smith and Abby Steen received First and Second Team All-Canadian honours, respectively. First-year standout Cheyenne Bower was included in the All-Canadian Rookie team, and Coach Graham Kennedy was awarded the U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year. The X-Women have already started working hard to build upon this season’s AUS campaign as they aim to push for more in 2024!