Morrison shines in goal as Huskies defeat REDS 2-0 in Halifax
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UNB (2-3-4, 2-3-4) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Saint Mary's (5-4-2, 5-4-2) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Goalkeeper Grace Morrison (Halifax, NS) posted an 11 save clean sheet to lead the Saint Mary's Huskies to a 2-0 win over the UNB REDS on Friday night at Huskies Stadium in Halifax.
It was Senior's Night for the Huskies as graduating players Julia Dorey (Cole Harbour, NS), Claire Dempsey (Bathurst, NB), and Halle MacEwan (Northwest Cove, NS), were honoured pre-game for their years of commitment to the program.
The two team's exchanged chances early in the match, with strikers Halle Williams (Hamilton, ON) and Alexandra Hughes-Goyette (Garibaldi Highlands, BC), each having scoring opportunities early, but unable to find the opening goal.
As the first half went on, the REDS began to ramp up the offence, applying pressure to the Huskies backline. In the 31st minute, midfielder Jesse Bellamy (St. Catharines, ON) broke into the box, and was tripped up by Huskies defender Madlyn Blinn (Lower Sackville, NS), giving the REDS a penalty kick. Bellamy aimed to the bottom right of the goal and Morrison guessed correctly, diving to save the penalty kick.
That was just the first of a series of tremendous saves by Morrison, as she made five more highlight reel stops over the next eight minutes of game play.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️��@SMU_WSoc Goalkeeper Grace Morrison with several outstanding saves in the first half to keep the game scoreless.
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 21, 2022
0-0 heading into the second half
Watch live: https://t.co/aXAb6ri9oX pic.twitter.com/vILu42r8ds
The REDS outshot the Huskies 8-1 in the first half, but Morrison stopped all eight attempts she faced, and the two teams headed into the locker room tied 0-0 after 45 minutes.
In the second half, the two teams continued to battle for a go-ahead goal, with neither team able to find many offensive opportunities, until the 81st minute, when Julia Dorey sent a cross into the box. Huskies midfielder Anelise Karakostas (Victoria, BC) got on the other side and somehow directed the ball over the REDS goalkeeper into the top left corner of the goal. Karakostas' career high fifth goal of the campaign put the Huskies up 1-0.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 21, 2022
Anelise Karakostas somehow heads it in to give @SMU_WSoc a 1-0 lead in the 81st minute. pic.twitter.com/fakqM3wdUm
Just over five minutes later the Huskies would tack on an insurance marker, as a freekick from Madlyn Blinn sailed to the other side of the box, where striker Allie Martin (Halifax, NS), controlled it with one touch before firing a high shot into the goal to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 21, 2022
Allie Martin scores to give @SMU_WSoc a 2-0 lead in the 85th minute. pic.twitter.com/wdxVzNTQKb
Morrison would make one final save, her 11th of the match, before the final whistle blew. She was named Subway Player of the Game for her efforts.
The Huskies win improved their record to 5-4-2 on the campaign. They'll be back on home turf next Saturday, Oct. 29 as they host the Memorial Sea-Hawks at 11 a.m., for their final match of the season and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a draw.
The REDS loss dropped their record to 2-3-4 on the season. UNB will be back on the road tomorrow, heading to Wolfville, N.S. to take on the Acadia Axewomen, with kick-off scheduled for 5 p.m.
Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / SMU Huskies Athletics