1955-’56 Women’s Field Hockey Team

…a Maritime Intercollegiate Championship in an undefeated season.

The 1955-56 Axettes won the Maritime Intercollegiate Field Hockey Championship under the expert guidance of Coach Gi (Corcoran) Forsythe. In bringing the championship back to Acadia for the first time since 1950, the women enjoyed an undefeated season, winning five games while tying the other.

Perennial scoring star Maxine Rankine scored the team’s only goal in an early-season 1-all tie with Mt. Allison.

In a subsequent 4-1 victory over Edgehill,Peggy O’Neil scored twice, while team captain Maxine and Gwen Morton registered single counters. In a 2-1 triumph over Mt. Allison, Dot Crouse scored the team’s initial goal while Annabelle Taylor connected for the winner.

The Dalhousie University squad was the next opponent to experience the tight defence of the Axettes, dropping a 1-0 decision as Carol Ann Boland scored the game’s lone tally.

The climax to the very successful season occurred on Remembrance Day in the midst of a snowstorm when the girls defeated the defending champion, Dalhousie, 4-0 to capture the coveted title. Individual stars in the championship-victory included goalkeeper Nancy Killam and scoring leader Maxine Rankine, the latter scoring twice.

In concluding the season, the Axettes decisively outplayed King’s College 13-0, as Rankine, who scored five goals shared the accolades with goalkeeper Killam, Boland, Morton, Marilyn Burbidge, Mary Atkinson and Sally Barteaux.

During the season Faie Peveril, Shelagh Doull, Elizabeth Fraser and Manager Margaret MacMillan contributed much to the championship team.

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