Antigonish, NS - The StFX X-Women remain undefeated in AUS regular season action after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the CIS #10 ranked Cape Breton University Capers Friday evening at Oland Stadium.
The lone goal of the match came off the foot of sophomore midfielder Margaux Fraser (Mississauga, ON) on a penalty kick in the 43rd minute.
The scoring opportunity came after Caper defender Robyn Novorolsky (Richmond Hill, ON) hauled down X-Women freshman forward Kelsey Ellis (Ottawa, ON) in the penalty area.
StFX head coach Graham Kennedy described the match as "a game of two halves."
"I thought we were outplayed in the first half, but we defended and came away with a PK – caught them on the break; very fortunate for us. I thought we were lucky to be up 1-0 at the half," he said.
"In the second half, we changed our formation up and went to a diamond midfield and things changed for us.
"We were quick on the break and a little cooler on the ball, and our defending was absolutely stellar," he added.
The X-Women defense bottled up the Caper offensive attack, which came into the contest having scored 18 goals in their first four matches.
During most of the first half, before the late tally from Fraser, the Capers held a territorial advantage – for the most part – but the X-Women were strong defensively.
Fifth-year forward Karolyne Blain (Sudbury, ON) missed the far post with a left-footer from close quarters in the second minute.
Off an early first-half scramble from a corner kick, sophomore midfielder Olivia Czipf (Thunder Bay, ON) saved a goal when she cleared the ball from the X-Women's goal line.
StFX goalkeeper Erin Visser (Whitby, ON) made her best save of the opening half when she went airborne to her right and deflected a sharp volley that was headed for the corner from Caper freshman Ciera Disipio (Ottawa, ON).
In the second half, with the Capers pressing, the X-Women defense remained strong, with great plays from defenders, such as Subway player of the match Danielle Makar (Calgary, AB). Brittany Parks (Kennetcook, NS), a junior midfielder, chased down the speedy Blain and her team-mates on a couple occasions.
In the 70th minute, the X-Women almost scored an insurance marker when Ellis lofted a long volley that almost beat Caper keeper Lysianne Trottier (Barrie, ON), who just got a piece of the ball and deflected out of play.
In the 88th minute, Fraser led a rush before making a great lead pass to senior forward Mary MacDonald (Kingston, ON), who lifted a great cross to Ellis, who made a re-direction off her body that trickled just wide.
The player of the match for the Capers was senior defender Kara MacKinnon (Sydney, NS).
Visser made 11 saves for the win, while Trottier turned aside eight shots in the loss.
The Capers will be back on the pitch Sunday, Sept. 27, when they host the Acadia Axewomen, at 1 p.m., in Sydney.
The X-Women return to action, on the same day, when they face the Mount Allison Mounties in Sackville, NB, beginning at 1 p.m.
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