Antigonish, NS - The StFX X-Women (4-1-2) returned to the win column in AUS regular season soccer action with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues (2-5) Friday night. Freshman midfielder Mercy Myles (Acrra, Ghana) scored both X-Women goals.
The match, on the turf at StFX Stadium, served as part of Homecoming 2016 festivities.
In the third minute, Myles garnered the first scoring opportunity for either side, but her strike trickled wide of the post behind Moncton goalkeeper Dominique LeBlanc (Dieppe, NB).
Off a Myles' corner kick, a header by veteran midfielder Claire Gibbons (Ottawa, ON) sailed over the crossbar.
Started by a Myles' through ball, sophomore forward Kelsey Ellis (Ottawa, ON) volleyed a pass to junior Chloe Brennan (Brookside, NS), who just missed with her shot attempt.
In the sixth minute, off a pass by defender Olivia Wilkie (Rosemere, QC) that was volleyed by Ellis, Myles gathered the ball and split a pair of Moncton defenders before ripping a hard strike into the corner of the goal behind LeBlanc.
A short time later, the X-Women tried to double their advantage, but Gibbons could not capitalize, off a feed from fifth-year senior midfielder Alix Bruch (Calgary, AB).
Off a pair of passes from the combo of Myles and Katyn Walsh (Stellarton, NS), Chloe Brennan's redirection went high and wide.
A couple minutes later, off a pass from midfielder Renee Gauvin (Moncton, NB), freshman striker Nina Yvette Tougouri (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) was sandwiched between a couple of X-Women defenders, which drew a foul.
On the ensuing free kick, in the 32nd minute, junior midfielder Alexie LeBlanc (Dieppe, NB) picked the top corner behind StFX junior goalkeeper Erin Visser (Whitby, ON).
With the X-Women trying to regain the lead, late in the first half, Dominque LeBlanc made some key stops, including one off a Wilkie free kick.
The teams were deadlocked 1-1 at halftime.
In the second half, the X-Women collected the first scoring chances, with the best early one coming off a Myles' corner kick, which defender Amy Rowe (Aurora, ON) headed wide.
In the 55th minute, Moncton got its first opportunity to score, with Alexie LeBlanc floating a free kick over the crossbar.
On a great through ball from Chloe Brennan, in the 64th minute, Myles made no mistake, depositing a hard strike in the back of the net to make it 2-1.
In the 72nd minute, the X-Women attempted to double their lead, off a Margaux Fraser (Mississauga, ON) free kick. Off the boot, a Wilkie twisting header went wide of the far post.
A few minute later, Myles re-directed a Chloe Brennan corner kick just wide.
In the 77th minute, off a Moncton cough up, Myles fed Ellis, who hit the outside of the far post with her strike.
Late, off a cross from Ellis, Fraser blistered a one-timer, from the area, but LeBlanc made a big stop.
With injury time winding down, Fraser took a pass from Chloe Brennan, deep in the zone, but she could not solve LeBlanc with a left-footed shot.
Myles was named Subway player of the match, while defender Madelaine LeBlanc (Bathurst, NB) earned top player honours for Les Aigles Bleues.
Moncton returns to action Sunday, Oct. 2, when they travel to Sydney to face the Cape University Capers, beginning at 1 p.m.
StFX will be back on the pitch Sunday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m., when they face the Acadia Axewomen in Wolfville.