(FREDERICTON, NB) An own goal by the Memorial Sea-Hawks off a free kick from Carolina Grzesniak (Oshawa, ON) in the 85th minute completed a second half comeback for the UNB Reds, who earned a 2-2 draw in their final regular season home game, on Saturday afternoon.
Grzesniak was named Subway Player of the Game for her efforts.
"Coach told us to fight it out and that the game is not over after 45 so continue until 90," said Grzesniak, on the message her team received heading into the second half.
Before the match, the Reds honoured their six graduating players Victoria Hatheway (Fredericton, NB), Eve MacDonald (Fredericton, NB), Shawne Comeau (Fredericton, NB), Alexandra Hughes-Goyette (Garibaldi Highlands, BC), Jesse Ballamy (St. Catherines, ON) and Brynn Nash (Saskatoon, SK).
After some good early possession for the REDS for the opening 10 minutes, the Sea-Hawks would find the back of the net on the counter-attack, in the 15th minute, as Zoe Rowe (Conception Bay South, NL) put a strike off a well placed cross just out of the reach of Nash for a 1-0 Memorial lead.
Rowe would come close again in the 18th minute, putting a strike off the crossbar just inside the REDS 18-yard box.
Memorial would continue the pressure in the 20th minute as Nash could not corral a Sea-Hawks free kick from Sarah Jones (Marystown, NL) and Rowe again would come close putting the ball just over the bar.
The Sea-Hawks would find the back of the net again before halftime, when Claire Kean (St. John's, NL) put a well-placed corner kick into the box that Alyssa Jenkins (St. John's, NL) headed home to make it 2-0 Memorial in the 32nd minute.
The REDS would show a better effort to start the second half, with better high-midfield pressure.
Grzesniak would get UNB going with a great free kick in the 55th minute that was deflected away from the top left corner by Sea-Hawks keeper Sydney Walsh (St. John's, NL).
The next minute however, the REDS momentum would break through off a deep left corner cross that Julia Dalley (Burlington, ON) would get a head on to cut Memorial's lead to 2-1.
Abigail Evans (St. John's, NL) came close to restoring the Sea-Hawks lead in the 70th with a strong free kick towards the REDS left post that required a diving save by Nash.
The REDS would be much more fortunate off a free kick of their own, in the 85th with Grzesniak putting the ball into the Sea-Hawks box that a Memorial defender would head into their own goal, tying the game 2-2.
Olivia Ryan (Burin Bay Arm, NL) would come close, in extra time, to getting the winning goal for the Sea-Hawks, putting a shot wide right of the UNB goal off a 2-on-1 break.
That would stand as the last high danger chance of the afternoon, leaving the teams tied at a 2-2 final.
The REDS remain in sixth place with the result at 2-2-4, maintaining their two-point lead over the seventh place Sea-Hawks who fall to 2-4-2.
"Everyone has been putting one-hundred percent in. It's all coming together, and it's all been worth it," said Grzesniak.
Memorial heads to Mount Allison Sunday for a game against the Mounties. Game time is 1:00pm.
The REDS next action is Saturday, October 21st, at 5:00pm when they head to Halifax to play the Saint Mary's Huskies.
RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics