Capers defeats Moncton 7-1 in AUS women’s soccer action
By Corey LeBlanc
Sydney – The Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (2-0) scored a convincing victory over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues (0-2) in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's soccer action on Sunday afternoon at Ness Timmons Soccer Field.
A determined home side came out strongly in the first half, leading to a corner kick only a couple of minutes into the match.
After chances from veterans Rebecca Lambke (Antigonish, NS) and Ally Rowe (Kitchener, ON), the match remained scoreless.
In the eighth minute, off a goal-mouth scramble after an Amy-Anne Ndiaye (Ile-Bizard, QC) corner kick, Ally Rowe was able to squeeze a shot from close quarters between a pair of Moncton defenders to make it 1-0.
The Capers continued their offensive pressure in the following minutes but they could not solve Moncton keeper Adele Melancon-Caillé (Sainte-Marie Salome, QC).
In the 28th minute, Ally Rowe doubled the CBU advantage, when she converted a nifty feed from sophomore midfielder Grace Hannaford (Enfield, NS) to extend the edge to 2-0.
Just before halftime, in extra time, Ally Rowe returned the favour, delivering a silky smooth touch pass to Hannaford at the top of the box. She then uncoiled and ripped a strike into the top corner behind Melançon-Caillé.
The Capers led 3-0 heading to the locker room.
In the second half, Madeleine Belliveau (Dieppe, NB) notched Moncton's first goal of the regular season – in the 56th minute – off a feed from Aleksis Roy (Moncton, NB) to slice the CBU advantage to 3-1.
Less than five minutes later – in the 59th – Hannaford regained the three-goal lead for the Capers, when she gathered a through ball from midfielder Charly Mitchell (Sherwood Park, AB) and laced a strike behind Melançon-Caillé to make it 4-1.
Ally Rowe collected her hat-trick goal – in the 66th minute – with Madalyn Hatfield (Dartmouth, NS) collecting the assist, as the Caper edge ballooned to 5-1.
In the 70th minute, Makenna Bowser's (Bible Hill, NS) left-footed corner kick found its way into the Moncton net to make it 6-1.
Hannaford, with her third marker of the contest – off an assist from Ndiaye, wrapped up the 7-1 victory in the 84th minute.
Ally Rowe and Madeleine Belliveau were named player of the game for their respective teams.
Moncton will return to action on Friday, Sept. 8, when they visit the UPEI Panthers in Charlottetown for a 5 p.m. ADT kick-off.
CBU will be back on the pitch Saturday, Sept. 9, when they host the rival STFX X-Women at 1 p.m. ADT.