X-Men shutout Mounties 3-0

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX X-Men made it two wins in a row with a decisive 3-0 decision over the Mount Allison Mounties on Friday night at STFX Stadium.

Three different STFX players found the back of the net for the defending Atlantic University Sport champions, with  Charlie Waters (Blackpool, ENG) receiving the STFX Gabriel Pizza Player of the Game nod with a goal and an assist. Mount Allison midfielder Tommy McCormick (Dartmouth, NS) was player of the game for the visitors.

STFX had the first shot on goal three minutes into the game, with captain Kyle Cordeiro (Oakville, ON) putting a head to a high cross from Cameron Shaw (Ottawa, ON) but Mount Allison goalie Rhys Chambers (Helston, ENG) got his hands on it.

The X-Men continued to dominate possession early and were rewarded with a goal in the 12th minute, as Waters slotted home a low shot after collecting a pass from Logan Rieck (Cambridge, ON) at the top of the 18-yard box. 

STFX had another solid chance in the 20th minute, but a chip attempt from distance off the foot of Fergus Hall (Campbell River, BC) bounced off the crossbar. Rieck had knock on goal from the top of the box about 10 minutes later, off a pass from Waters, that whistled just wide of the post. 

Taheil Davis (Kingston, JM) had the first shot on goal for the Mounties with about 10 minutes left in the first half, but STFX keeper Cameron Greenlaw (Dartmouth, NS) held on.

STFX came close to doubling their score in the final minute of the opening half, with Luke Green's header off a Rieck freekick finding the hands of Chambers. Shots on goal at halftime were 4-1 in favour of STFX as they were up 1-0 on the score board.

The early minutes of the second half mirrored much of the first half, with the X-Men maintaining possession and moving the ball forward with poise. The Mounties had a couple of early counter-attack runs but weren't able to muster a shot on net. A scramble in-front of the Mount Allison net in the 53rd minute almost resulted in a goal, but the Mounties cleared for an X corner.

Cordeiro made it 2-0 in the 60th minute, heading in a rebound off a header from Waters, after Dyan Vil (Ottawa, ON) made a beauty of a cross from near the goal line.

STFX defender Luke Green (Fall River, NS) made it 3-0 in the 76th minute,  hammering a freekick at the top of the 18-yard box off the bottom of the crossbar and into the Mount Allison net. 

The Mounties pressed for chances in the final 10 minutes but couldn't solve Greenlaw, who finished with one save while earning the shutout. Chambers made five saves while picking up the loss.  

The X-Men will round out their weekend with a road trip to Charlottetown to square off with the UPEI Panthers on Sunday, September 15, at 3:15.  The Mounties continue their Nova Scotia road-trip with a stop in Sydney tomorrow afternoon to take on the Cape Breton University Capers at 6:15 pm.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics