Antigonish, NS - Margaux Fraser (Mississauga, ON) scored the equalizer for the StFX X-Women (3-2-6) in the 73rd minute of a 1-1 tie with the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues (0-9-2) Friday evening in AUS soccer action.
More than 100 fans braved strong wind and heavy rain at Oland Stadium in Antigonish.
The forward deposited a great through ball from fellow freshman Olivia Czipf (Thunder Bay, ON) behind Moncton goalkeeper Catherine Poirier (Caraquet, NB). Fraser ripped a bullet shot into the corner of the net.
In the first three minutes, the Aigles Bleues almost opened the scoring when a shot from forward Alexandra Maltais (Dieppe, NB) eluded X-Women goalkeeper Maris Miller (St. John's, NL), but rang off the inside of the left goal post.
In the first 25 minutes, Miller made a couple key stops, including a diving one off a Moncton free kick.
Maura Woodman (Halifax, NS) had a great first-half chance for the X-Women, when she got behind the Moncton defense, but hit the side of the goal with her shot.
Late in the opening half, in the 44th minute, Maltais made it 1-0 for the Aigles Bleues. She beat Miller with a header off a corner kick. The ball deflected off two Moncton players before Maltais got her opportunity.
In the 62nd minute, Czipf ripped a strike from the 24-yard mark, but Poirier made the save.
StFX outshot Moncton 10 to 7, with Poirier making five saves, while Miller blocked three shots. Freshman X-Women keeper Erin Visser, who played the second half, made one save.
Before the match, the X-Women honoured seniors Miller, Woodman, Brianna Cuzzolino (Oakville, ON), Gabrielle "Gabby" Bergh (Calgary, AB) and Bobbie Martin (Ottawa, ON), who were playing for the final time at Oland Stadium.
The X-Women return to action Sunday, Oct. 19, when they face the Saint Mary's Huskies in Halifax. Game time is 1 p.m.