Tigers open season with 0-0 draw with Mounties
First-year striker Paris Axam earned Subway Player of the Game honours in the Tigers 0-0 draw with the Mount Allison Mounties Saturday night in Halifax.
By Ryan Hyndman
The Dalhousie women's soccer team drew with the Mount Allison Mounties by a score of 0-0 Saturday evening at Wickwire Field. Despite the tie, the Tigers remain undefeated for the fifth-straight season opener in front of a lively crowd of supporters.
The match began with both teams trading scoring chances in the first five minutes of play. After both teams settled in, the Tigers began to take control in the Mounties end, earning a corner kick in the 23' minute. Maintaining the pressure into the 28' minute Morgan Leon (Toronto, Ont.) sailed a free kick just over the crossbar and rookie Olivia Jack (Stillwater, NS) was stopped on a point-blank shot on goal.
The Mounties were able to make their way down the field several times later in the half, but the structured defense of the Tigers was able to eliminate any potential shots on goal. Earning a free kick in the 41' minute, Paris Axam (Ottawa, Ont.) was able to place a near perfect shot on goal, stopped by the Mount Allison goalkeeper. The Mounties responded again, earning a free kick of their own, however the Tigers defence was once again able to hold the fort. Rushing up the field in the final minute of the first half, the Tigers were able to generate two scoring chances, coming just short of putting the ball in the net.
After periods of sustained pressure from both sides, the defence for both sides remained successful with the first half concluding 0-0.
At the start of the second half, in the 49' minute, the Tigers remained on the hunt for the match's first goal. Chloe Richardson (Calgary, Alta.) rushed up the field and was able to get around the goalkeeper, but the shot was stopped by a defender in the box.
The Tigers kept pushing as Richardson continued to drive the offense with another cut to the middle and shot on goal in the 66' minute. The best chance of the game for the Tigers came in the 73' minute with a kick from Megan Chiasson (Lower Sackville, NS) that looked like it was painted for the far corner. From there, the Tigers took over, earning numerous chances to take the first lead of the game, with none better than an opportunity from Jordan Mansfield (Vancouver, BC) in the 79' minute.
As the match winded down, the Tigers kept the offensive pressure alive with a long drive from Zoe Brown (Halifax, NS), but were unable to break past the Mounties goaltender Sophie Austin (Kanata, Ont.) who stood on her head all game. Finishing the game with 10 shots on goal to the Mounties zero, the Tigers did almost everything they could to break through.
Dalhousie's Paris Axam earned the Subway Player of the Game honours.
Mount Allison will look to get in the win column when they travel to Antigonish on September 17 to take on the X-Women. The Tigers are back in action when they head to UNB next weekend.