Tigers top Axewomen 2-1

By: Jack Longo

The Dalhousie Tigers Women's Soccer team defeated the Acadia Axewomen at Wickwire Field on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers' win extended their unbeaten run to six games to begin the season.

The first few forays forward went to the visitors on Sunday as Acadia moved the ball well all half long and found a couple goal-scoring chances in both the opening and closing 15 minutes of the first half.

The first real chance fell to Acadia in the 11th minute when Dalhousie's goalkeeper Emily Toth (Markham, ON) made a solid double save to deny the Axewomen.

Only four minutes later Dalhousie's focus on quick counter attacks paid off when Kaitlyn Clarke (Edmonton, AB) received the ball on the turn and played in Elise Evans (Toronto, ON). Evans found themselves one-on-one with the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the back of the net to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers then doubled their lead in the 28th minute when a spell of good pressure eventually led to a mix-up in the Acadia box. When the ball dropped in the area it was Alyson Bodner (Edmonton, AB) who was quickest to poke it home.

In the 35th minute Acadia had a chance to half the deficit when a quick break forward and a couple nice passes teed up Grace Longley (Bedford, NS) at the top of the box, but her shot went just over the bar.

Acadia continued to move the ball well as a team and their deepest midfield, Madyson Harris (Wolfville, NS), was a big part of that. It was no surprise then to see Harris make a further imprint on the game when she was the quickest to react to the loose ball in the Dalhousie box in the 44th minute. Harris' goal just before the halftime whistle made it 2-1 for the Tigers at the break.

A potential Acadia goal just a minute later was waved off for offside in what was essentially the last action of the first half.

The second half was another very evenly contested 45 minutes that saw a couple good chances for both teams but no goals.

Acadia's Madicynn Harnish (Lower Sackville, NS) forced a couple of saves out of Dalhousie's Toth, first in the 66th minute and then in the 74th but neither were able to get the Axewomen a second goal.

Perhaps Acadia's best chances of the half though came in the 89th and 90th minutes. First when Alli Kelly's (Halifax, NS) header from inside the box went just wide and then when Rosie Nichols (Toronto, ON) low strike from the top of the box whistled past the post.

Ultimately, Acadia couldn't find the equalizer they needed and the Tigers came away with a 2-1 victory for their fourth win of the season.

Dalhousie's Alyson Bodner was named the Subway Player of the Game after scoring the winning goal for the Tigers. Madyson Harris had a goal to lead the way for the Axewomen.

Dalhousie's next game comes on Friday when the Tigers play Moncton at 5pm at Wickwire Field.

The next test for Acadia is on Thursday at 5pm when they host UPEI.