X-Women clinch playoff berth on final day of regular season
The StFX X-Women (6-5-2) punched their ticket to the AUS playoffs with a season-ending 2-0 victory over the visiting Saint Mary's Huskies (2-10-1) Sunday afternoon at Oland Stadium.
ANTIGONISH - The StFX X-Women (6-5-2) punched their ticket to the AUS playoffs with a season-ending 2-0 victory over the visiting Saint Mary's Huskies (2-10-1) Sunday afternoon at Oland Stadium.
In the regular season finale, on senior day, the X-Women honoured fifth-year defender Gabrielle Bergh (Calgary, AB), fourth-year defender Jessica Walsh-Moreau (Ottawa, ON) and fourth-year forward Mary MacDonald (Kingston, ON) for their contributions to the varsity soccer program.
Sophomore Chloe Brennan (Brookside, NS) opened the scoring, with what proved to be the match winner, when she took a feed from freshman Kelsey Ellis (Ottawa, ON) and ripped a hard strike home from the top of the 18-yard box.
Ellis, along with junior midfielder Brittany Parks (Kennetcook, NS), hit the goal post on scoring attempts in the first 45 minutes.
Parks had another opportunity later in the first half, but her shot was blocked by Saint Mary's defender Natasha MacLean (Lower Sackville, NS), who cleared the ball from the goal line. The chance came off a strong right-footed cross from MacDonald.
The Huskies, who will not be part of the conference playoffs, had two corner kick chances in the first half, but they came up empty.
In the second half, Mary MacDonald doubled the X-Women lead with a great strike in the 63rd minute, which made it 2-0 for the blue and white.
In the final seconds, the Huskies had their best opportunity to break the scoring goose egg, but a Fiorella Morales (Bedford, NS) shot - off a StFX turnover - rang off the goal post behind Nicole MacDonald (Kanata, ON).
The junior goalkeeper made three saves in the X-Women win - her second shutout in as many days - while Jackie Blank (Cole Harbour, NS) turned aside 10 shots for the Huskies in the loss.
Mary MacDonald was the Subway player of the match, while Nicole Tibbetts (Kentville, NS) of the Huskies was named her team's top player.
The Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleues will host the 2015 Subway AUS Women's Soccer Championship, from Nov. 5-8.
The X-Women end the season in fifth place and will face the fourth place UNB Varsity Reds in AUS quarter-final action on Thursday, November 5th at 5:00 pm at Moncton Stadium.
The host Moncton squad will play third place Memorial in the other quarter-final Thursday at 7:15 pm with the winners advancing to semifinal play on Friday against either Acadia or Cape Breton.
The champsionship game is scheduled for Sunday at 2:00 pm.
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