Antigonish, NS - The defending AUS champion StFX X-Women (2-0) completed a successful opening weekend of action with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Saint Mary's Huskies at Oland Stadium.
The ever-improving young Huskies squad (0-2) bounced back from a tough opening game in Sydney to play a composed 90 minutes of soccer.
Both teams employed a back three, which was at times difficult for the other team to break down. StFX controlled the early part of the game with a few meek scoring efforts, not all of which were on target.
The first goal of the game from fourth year player, Chloe Brennan (Brookside, NS), who scored her first goal of the season with the assist going to second year midfielder, Mercy Miles (Accra, Ghana). The two players worked a nice give-and-go with one another in the 18-yard box with Brennan tucking away an easy scoring opportunity.
Just four minutes later, the recently introduced fourth year midfielder, Margaux Fraser (Mississauga, ON), doubled the lead on a great shot from just outside the box which found the far side of the net. The assist on the goal went to freshman back Megan Frost (Ottawa, ON), who played last year at the University of Vermont.
The X-Women took the 2-0 lead into the locker room at half-time, registering eight shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes while the Huskies were unable to register a shot.
Their fortune quickly reversed, however, eight minutes into the second half when midfielder Mary Bennett (Vernon, BC) put the Huskies on the score sheet. Saint Mary's pressure on the StFX players led to some untidy play and Bennett made the X-Women pay the price.
Both sides made numerous substitutions throughout the second half. The X-Women had the better of the chances over the 90 minutes, outshooting the Huskies 9-4 in the second half and 17-4 overall in the game.
X-Women keeper Erin Visser (Whitby, ON) picked up the win in nets for the X-Women. She played the opening half while freshman Emma Kuzmyk (Cookstown, ON) minded the net in the second half for StFX.
Freshman StFX forward Larissa White (Westphal, NS) earned Subway player of the game honors.
The Huskies return to action this Thursday against Dalhousie at Huskies Stadium while the X-Women will travel to Moncton on Saturday to face the Aigles-Bleues.
GAME NOTES:
The Huskies back three of Alexa Tymkiw (Vernon, BC), Brooke Marriott (Brookside, NS) and Celina Cavadini (Halifax, NS) were solid as a unit. Jill MacDonald (Fall River, NS) and Fiorella Morales (Bedford, NS) were impressive with and without the ball.
StFX defender Danielle Makar (Calgary, AB) returned with a strong performance after sitting out last year with an ACL injury. Subway player of the game White did an excellent job controlling the midfield for the home side.
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Courtesy Bart Sears, StFX Athletics Communications