Axewomen defeat Huskies 4-1 in AUS Quarterfinal

SYDNEY, NS – The third-seeded Acadia Axewomen cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Saint Mary's Huskies in quarterfinal action at the 2023 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Women's Soccer Championship on Thursday at Ness Timmons Field on the Cape Breton University (CBU) campus.

In the first half, the teams exchanged corner kicks in the opening minute of the match, but no one could get on the scoresheet.

In the eighth minute, Abigail Aucoin (Darmouth, NS) – an AUS second-team all-star – collected the first quality scoring chance, but veteran Saint Mary's keeper Grace Morrison (Halifax, NS) made the save.

With the Axewomen continuing to press in the 14^th minute, Alli Kelly (Halifax, NS) had a pair of glorious opportunities just outside the six-yard box; Morrison turned aside the first one, while Kelly rang the second one off the post. Neila MacDonald (Port Williams, NS) made the stop on a third scoring opportunity in the sequence.

Sydney Kennedy (Fletcher's Lake, NS), a conference first-team all-star, tested Morrison with a strike in the 20^th minute, but it whistled just over the crossbar.

A couple of minutes later, Madyson Harris (Port Hardy, BC) ripped a strike off the crossbar behind Morrison.

Sydney Kennedy opened the scoring – in the 25^th minute – finishing off an assist from Harris to make it 1-0 for Acadia. The former University of Florida player battled for possession versus a pair of Saint Mary's defenders.

In the 28^th minute, Aucoin set up fellow second-team all-star Grace Longley, who doubled the Axewomen advantage.

Down a pair, the Huskies answered, when Erin Freeman (Halifax, NS) knifed a deft through ball to Charlotte Baines (Halifax, NS), who bested Acadia keeper Milena Ramirez (Wolfville, NS) to slice the deficit to 2-1 in the 37^th minute.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️

Charlotte Baines finishes off a great passing play for the goal! Huskies trail Acadia 2-1 at half of the @AUS_SUA Quarterfinal. pic.twitter.com/TZ1FFlsu1V

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 26, 2023

The Axewomen took a one-goal edge to the locker room at halftime.

Early in the second half, on the third of three consecutive corners, Kelly got a piece of an Aucoin kick, but it deflected off the top of the crossbar and out of play.

In the 62^nd minute, Brenna Kennedy (Fletcher's Lake) doubled the Acadia edge to 3-1, when she got her foot on a long pass from Mya Harnish (Lower Sackville, NS) and volleyed it over the head of a charging Morrison and into the net.

Five minutes later, Sydney Kennedy was sent in alone on Morrison, who made a sensational stop on the strike from the Acadia veteran.

In the 70^th minute, Baines sent Allie Martin (Halifax, NS) for a run down the wing, but Ramirez – with fine positioning – made the stop on the hard shot.

A short time later – in the 71^st minute – Sydney Kennedy, the player of the match, drew a foul in the 18-yard box after weaving her way through four Saint Mary's defenders. On the penalty kick, she made no mistake – making it 4-1 for Acadia.

Acadia outshot Saint Mary's 27-4 in the contest, including 10-2 in shots on goal.

With the victory the Axewomen move on to the semi-final round, where they will face the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers – the second seed in the tournament – on Friday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m. ADT, on the turf at Ness Timmons Field.