Milligan’s hat-trick leads Sea-Hawks to 4-1 win over Huskies

HALIFAX, NS – Memorial forward Jen Milligan scored a second half hat-trick, leading the Sea-Hawks to a 4-1 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Sunday afternoon at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, N.S.

The Huskies offence was able to generate several opportunities early, with midfielder Charlotte Baines (Halifax, NS) finding an opening for a shot that was denied by Sea-Hawks first year goalkeeper Leana Claude (Grenchen, SUI).

Baines continued to pressure the Sea-Hawks defence, and was able to earn her team a penalty kick after she collided with Memorial fullback Sarah Jones (Marystown, NL) inside the box. Huskies forward Cara Freeman – the 2023 AUS Rookie of the Year – stepped to the spot and buried the penalty into the bottom left corner for her first goal of the campaign, giving Saint Mary's a 1-0 lead in the 15^th minute.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️

Cara Freeman scores a penalty kick for the Huskies first goal of the 2024 regular season! Tied up at 1-1 after 45 minutes of play.

Watch live: https://t.co/lSKRBkBxc8 pic.twitter.com/54CnNynscC

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

But the Sea-Hawks didn't take long to respond. Just two minutes later, veteran forward Zoe Rowe (Conception Bay South, NL) rang a shot off the crossbar. Midfielder Abby Evans corralled the rebound and fed it back to Rowe who was able to beat Huskies keeper Katie Alley (Milton, ON), to tie the match at 1-1 in the 17^th minute.

The equalizer seemed to energize the Sea-Hawks, as forward Claire Langille (Fall River, NS) was able to get past the defence on several occasions, at one point finding Evans who hit another crossbar. The Huskies generated another good first half chance but Freeman's effort was denied by Claude, and the teams went into the half deadlocked at 1-1.

Saint Mary's made some adjustments to begin the second half, bringing in a trio of attacking substitutes in forwards Katelyn Schuler (Edmonton, AB), Aine O'Neil (New Ross, NS) and Lauren Hurst (Dartmouth, NS).

But it was the Sea-Hawks offensive attack that took over the second half. In the 76^th minute, an Evans corner kick bounced around the box, before forward Jen Milligan (Strathroy, ON) directed it past Alley to take the lead, 2-1.

Just over five minutes later, Milligan would strike again, taking a long pass off her knee and bringing the ball onto her right foot where she delivered a powerful strike into goal.

Milligan would complete the hat-trick in the 90^th minute, using some fancy footwork to weave through Huskies defenders and finish past Alley to secure the 4-1 victory.

Milligan was named Player of the Game for the Huskies with three goals, while Abby Evans chipped in two assists.

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 5 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