Freeman connection shines in Huskies thrilling 5-4 comeback win over Sea-Hawks

Saint Mary's sister connection Cara and Erin Freeman combined to score four goals and four assists - including the game-winning goal in stoppage time - as the Huskies won 5-4 over the Memorial Sea-Hawks in a thrilling match on Sunday afternoon in St. John's, NL.

After dropping Saturday's result by a score of 4-0, the Huskies came out of the gates determined, and scored the first goal of the match.

In the fifth minute, forward Allie Martin (Halifax, NS) made a nice run up the left wing, and played it out wide for Cara Freeman (Halifax, NS), who sent a cross in front to her sister Erin Freeman (Halifax, NS), who deposited it past Sea-Hawks goalkeeper Shannon Galway to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

The Sea-Hawks would respond just under 20 minutes later, as midfielder Isabella Hoddinott played a nice pass into Huskies territory which was picked up by forward Zoe Rowe. Huskies goalkeeper Grace Morrison (Halifax, NS) came out to challenge, but Rowe was able to poke it past her to tie the match at 1-1 in the 22nd minute.

Just five minutes later, the Sea-Hawks would take the lead, after Hoddinott connected with midfielder Claire Langille, who evaded a defender and fired a low shot past Morrison to make it 2-1 in the 27th minute.

The Sea-Hawks attack kept coming, and after Langille earned her team a corner kick, defender Claire Kean looped the corner into the box on to the head of Zoe Rowe, who scored her second of the match to extend the home team lead to 3-1 in the 28th minute.

After three goals in just over five minute, the Huskies looked to claw back, and would cut into the lead in the 39th minute, as Erin Freeman found her sister Cara at the edge of the box, where she fired a left-footed rocket past Galway to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Sea-Hawks would regain their two goal lead just over two minutes later, as Langille intercepted a ball in the Huskies zone and played a give-and-go with Rowe, who finished it off with her third goal of the first half to put the Sea-Hawks ahead 4-2.

The Sea-Hawks dangerous offence kept pushing, but Morrison made a great save on a Hoddinott shot, and the score remained 4-2 heading into half-time.

It was the Huskies who would strike first in the second half, after an Erin Freeman corner kick bounced around the box and found the foot of Cara Freeman, who poked it past Galway to cut the Sea-Hawks lead to 4-3 in the 58th minute.

Five minutes later the Huskies would find their equalizer; a long throw by Allie Martin was headed back by a Sea-Hawks defender, and Martin stepped in and fired an absolute screamer of a shot from 25 yards out that curled over Galway and fell into goal to tie the match at 4-4 in the 64th minute.

A late corner in the 87th minute nearly saw the Sea-Hawks find the go-ahead goal off a corner kick, but Morrison turned away a header from Grace Nolan. Moments later, Zoe Rowe nearly scored a goal but fired a short angled shot off the side netting. 

Early in added time, the Huskies would find an opportunity on the counter-attack and make the most of it, as Erin Freeman fired a cross from just outside the box onto the chest of her sister Cara, who took a touch and deposited it into the back of goal for the hat-trick and game-winning goal.

The Sea-Hawks nearly found an equalizer after a free-kick from Sydney Schram rang off the crossbar, the Huskies were able to hold on for the thrilling 5-4 victory.

Huskies goalkeeper Grace Morrison had seven saves in the win, while Sea-Hawks goalkeeper Shannon Galway stopped two shots.

The Huskies win improved their record to 1-3-0 on the season. They'll have a pair of games in Halifax next weekend, first taking on their crosstown rival Dalhousie Tigers (2-2-0) on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. at Wickwire Field, before hosting the Cape Breton Capers (3-1-0) for their home-opener on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. at Huskies Stadium. GET TICKETS

The Sea-Hawks loss dropped their record to 3-2-1. They'll be on the road next weekend, visiting the UPEI Panthers (2-1-1) on Friday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m., and the Mount Allison Mounties (0-4-0) on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 12 p.m.