Axewomen to face Capers in AUS semi-final
(SYDNEY, N.S.) – The third-seeded Acadia Axewomen cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Saint Mary's Huskies in quarterfinal action at the 2023 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Women's Soccer Championship on Thursday at Ness Timmons Field on the Cape Breton University (CBU) campus.
In the first half, the teams exchanged corner kicks in the opening minute of the match, but no one could get on the scoresheet.
In the eighth minute, Abigail Aucoin (Darmouth, NS) – an AUS Second Team All-Star – collected the first quality scoring chance, but veteran Saint Mary's keeper Grace Morrison (Halifax, NS) made the save.
With the Axewomen continuing to press in the 14th minute, Alli Kelly (Halifax, NS) had a pair of glorious opportunities just outside the six-yard box; Morrison turned aside the first one, while Kelly rang the second one off the post. Neila MacDonald (Port Williams, NS) made the stop on a third scoring opportunity in the sequence.
First Team All-Star selection Sydney Kennedy (Fletcher's Lake, NS) opened the scoring – in the 25th minute – finishing off an assist from Harris to make it 1-0 for Acadia. The former University of Florida player battled for possession versus a pair of Saint Mary's defenders.
In the 28th minute, Aucoin set up fellow Second Team All-Star Grace Longley, who doubled the Axewomen advantage.
Down a pair, the Huskies answered when Erin Freeman (Halifax, NS) knifed a deft through ball to Charlotte Baines (Halifax, NS), who bested Acadia keeper Milena Ramirez (Wolfville, NS) to slice the deficit to 2-1 in the 37th minute.
The Axewomen took a one-goal edge to the locker room at halftime.
In the 62nd minute, Brenna Kennedy (Fletcher's Lake) doubled the Acadia edge to 3-1, when she got her foot on a long pass from Mya Harnish (Lower Sackville, NS) and volleyed it over the head of a charging Morrison and into the net.
A short time later – in the 71st minute – Sydney Kennedy, who was named the player of the match, drew a foul in the 18-yard box after weaving her way through four Saint Mary's defenders. On the penalty kick, she made no mistake – making it 4-1 for Acadia.
Acadia outshot Saint Mary's 27-4 in the contest, including 10-2 in shots on goal.
With the victory the Axewomen move on to the semi-final round, where they will face the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers – the second seed in the tournament – on Friday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m. ADT, on the turf at Ness Timmons Field.
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