Sydney, NS – The StFX X-Women defeated the U SPORTS No. 3 ranked Cape Breton Capers by a 3-2 score Friday night in AUS action in a close game.
As the game began, both teams took their time learning about the other team while playing a defensive strategy. In the 10th minute, Allyiah Rowe (Ottawa, ON) turned defense into offense by getting a great opportunity to Rachel Leck (Pickering, ON) but it was deflected. Almost two minutes later Ciera Disipio (Ottawa, ON) got a nice ball to Rowe for the first goal of the game as the Capers took an early 1-0 lead.
In the 17th minute, StFX did a great job using speed to get past the defenders to get a direct kick and they took advantage as Amanda Smith (Ottawa, ON) scored off the kick to tie the game at 1-1.
Shortly after around the 20th minute, Rowe had a few great looks at the net, one hitting the post, and one StFX keeper Alyssa Spidgeon (Whitby, ON) got a piece to keep it out.
In the 22nd minute after a scrappy fight for the ball in front of the StFX net, Rowe ended up with the ball beside her and she made StFX pay getting it past Spridgeon to give the Capers the 2-1 lead.
Late in injury time before the end of the first half Capers keeper Rachel Yexra (Mississauga, ON) made a few great dive saves to keep StFX away from the goal and the half ended 2-1 in favour of the home squad.
In the second half, StFX did a great job keeping the ball in the Capers end and being aggressive. In the 63rd minute, a long ball by Hannah Engdahl-Hawach (Cochrane, AB) just got past Yexra and tied the game up 2-2.
In the 68th minute after a save by Yexra, a scramble of the loose ball led to a goal by StFX's Amanda Smith – her second of the afternoon - that gave them the 3-2 lead.
The lead was kept intact after a few chances by CBU were deflected by the StFX fullbacks.
Smith received Subway player of the game honours for her efforts.
Both teams will be back in action this weekend. The Capers will host Memorial in a 1:00 pm game on Saturday, while the X-Women will host the same Memorial squad on Sunday, also at 1:00 pm.
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Courtesy Daniel Briand, CBU Athletics