Sea-Hawks late goal secures 2-1 win over Huskies

HALIFAX, NS – Memorial midfielder Jonathan Furlong scored the game-winning goal in the 89^th minute, securing the Sea-Hawks 2-1 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Sunday afternoon at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, N.S.

With both teams looking to bounce-back from season opening losses, the first half of the match was tense and physical, with neither team generating many quality scoring opportunities.

Huskies winger Colby Mercer (Beaverbank, NS) had the best chance of the early moments as he took a nice feed from midfielder Nathaniel Langille (St. Margaret's Bay, NS) rang a first-touch shot off the crossbar.

Sea-Hawks forward Colin Connors (St. John's, NL) had several quality chances in the first half, as he got behind the Huskies defence but was denied by goalkeeper Francesco Rizzo (Woodbridge, ON).

But Connors wouldn't be denied for long, as in the 45^th minute he took a feed from forward Augustine Opuoro (St. John's, NL) and fired a screamer into the top right corner to put the visitors ahead 1-0 at the half.

The Huskies made a few changes at halftime and were rewarded with an early equalizer, after a crossing attempt from forward Sean Freeman (Halifax, NS) went off the hand of a Sea-Hawks defender and gave Saint Mary's a penalty kick. Defender Woody Bain (Dartmouth, NS) stepped up to the spot and was initially denied by a sprawling Louis-Charles Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, QC) but followed up on his own rebound and equalized the match 1-1 in the 49^th minute.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️

Woody Bain gets stopped on a penalty kick but is able to follow up his own rebound to tie the match at 1-1! pic.twitter.com/lYgP3TwacZ

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) September 1, 2024

The Huskies were able to generate a few more quality scoring opportunities over the second half, but Vaillancourt was sharp, notably stopping Huskies forward Tonye Ogon (Bayelsa, Nigeria) and midfielder Scott Firth (Windsor Junction, NS) to keep the game deadlocked at 1-1.

In the 89^th minute, the Sea-Hawks won a corner kick and the delivery from fullback Brent Hennebury (Lawn, NL) bounced around the box and was directed into goal by first year midfielder Jonathan Furlong (Portugal Cove – St. Phillip's, NL) to win the match 2-1.

Louis-Charles Vaillancourt was named Player of the Match, credited with four saves on the afternoon but also breaking up several passes with his aggressive play.

The Sea-Hawks (1-1-0) will host the UNB REDS (1-1-0) for a pair of games next weekend, Friday and Saturday at 7:15 p.m. NDT. The Huskies (0-2-0) will next look to bounce back against the UPEI Panthers on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3:15 p.m. in Charlottetown, PEI.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics