Sydney, NS – Led by a three-goal performance by Subway player of the game Amanda Smith, the fourth seeded STFX X-Women defeated the fifth seeded Mount Allison Mounties 4-0 in the Subway AUS quarterfinal game Thursday afternoon on CBU Field.
Following the match the veteran X-Women midfielder Smith noted in a post-game interview with AUStv that, "Heading into the game, we had a strong attitude and really wanted the win."
"In the first half we had the wind against us which made it trickier, but we got more chances in the second half and were able to put the ball in the net."
The X-Women dominated possession for the majority of the match and outshot the Mounties 15-1.
STFX controlled possession early on in the game, keeping the ball in midfield and in the Mounties half as they worked touches and tried to generate scoring chances.
AUS first team all-star Smith had a nice feed through to striker Brynn Jurus in the opening two minutes of play and Mounties goalkeeper Sophie Austin had to be alert on Jurus' shot on goal.
The X-Women played a strong defensive game, keeping the Mounties at bay and allowing them no significant scoring chances midway through the first half.
In the middle, Lauren Reid and Emma Steen were consistent for the X-Women and worked the ball well, along with the leader on the pitch Smith.
After continued pressure in the Mounties end, the X-Women were awarded a penalty kick due to a Mounties hand ball, and it was Smith who made no mistake burying the shot low into the Mounties goal. The strike came 33 minutes into play.
The Mounties finally registered a shot on goal in the 38th minute when a streaking Amanda Piltzmaker up the wing took a long pass and made a quick shot on goal. X-Women keeper Christina Gentile got a hand on the ball which deflected off the cross bar and out of play.
The Mounties used the chance to generate some pressure the opposite way and start to get some balls through to the X-Women defensive end late in the half.
No further damage was done by either side, and the 1-0 STFX lead held up at halftime.
STFX kept up the pressure in the second half. Reid connected with Jenna Burrows five minutes in for a nice chance but the ball sailed over the cross bar on Burrows' shot.
Austin then made a nice save minutes later off a Jurus shot on goal.
Smith struck again in the 62nd minute as she scored on a quick left-footed low shot that took Austin by surprise in the Mounties net. At the top of the box through traffic, Smith had possession of the ball and made a quick turn and solid strike on goal that alluded the Mounties keeper and doubled the STFX lead to 2-0.
The Mounties continued to struggle against the strong X-Women defense and could not create any meaningful offensive attacks.
Sarah Lapensee defended well for X as the blue and white settled in, comfortable to play out the game with the lead.
Reid increased that lead to 3-0 with a nice header goal in the 73rd minute, redirecting a cross in front of the net.
Smith's third goal came in the 80th minute from a pass inside the box from Lapensee. She again turned and took a quick low shot that found the back of the mesh.
With the win, the X-Women advance to the Subway semifinal game Friday at 11:30 am against the top seeded Memorial Sea-Hawks.
When asked what STFX needed to do to prepare for their game against Memorial, Smith commented, "We need to stick to our game, we play a fast game, we connect well, and just have to play together."
All games of the championship are being hosted on CBU Field by the Cape Breton Capers and are being webcast live on www.austv.ca.
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Courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Sports Information