(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The tables have been set for the 2014 Subway AUS women's soccer championship final as the Memorial Sea-Hawks defeated the defending champion Cape Breton Capers in penalties on a cold, rainy afternoon at Wickwire Field.
This marks the first time since 2009 that the AUS champion will not be either Dalhousie or Cape Breton.
Emily Bailey opened the scoring for the Sea-Hawks when she pounced on a rebound that went past a diving Tiffany O'Donnell, who had just made two previous saves after Jane Pope sent a beautiful cross right into the box.
She almost added another just minutes later as she chased down a ball headed towards the Capers net but O'Donnell slid out to make the save.
Cape Breton's Kelsey Hand tied the game in the 72nd minute when she fired an absolute bullet past Hannah Noseworthy.
Intensity soared after the goal as both teams fought tooth and nail for the next precious goal. Despite strong efforts from both sides, the game remained tied as regulation time expired.
Neither team could find the back of the net in all of extra time. The team to advance to the championship final would be forced to do so in penalty kicks.
Jane Pope opened the shootout with a screaming shot to the bottom left of the net to give the Sea-Hawks the lead.
Hannah Noseworthy followed up Pope's goal with a save on AUS MVP Karolyne Blain.
The Sea-Hawks' Hannah Rivkin was unsuccessful on her attempt and Cape Breton's Kara MacKinnon made good on hers to tie up the shootout.
On the next two shots, both teams were successful as Keisha Younge scored for the Sea-Hawks and Tamara Brown netted one for the Capers.
But Cape Breton's fate was sealed on the next shots as Maria Mackey scored for Memorial and Noseworthy stopped the Capers' Lauren Ferguson's effort.
Jessie Noseworthy netted the Sea-Hawks' fourth goal of the shootout, securing Memorial's spot in the 2014 Subway AUS women's soccer championship final. The Sea-Hawks will look to win their first AUS women's soccer championship in the school's history.
They will face the first-seeded UNB Varsity Reds Sunday at 2 p.m. at Wickwire Field. The game will be streamed live on AUStv.ca.
Source: Dalhousie Sports Information