Tigers and Axemen tie 2-2

(HALIFAX, N.S.) – The Dalhousie Tigers and Acadia Axemen battled to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon at Wickwire Field in a see-saw contest in which both teams hold the lead at one point.

The two squads employed different offensive approaches in the first half. The Tigers kept to the short passing game, while Acadia looked to get the ball directly to their quick strikers.

It was the Axemen who got on the board first, as forward Matthew Berrigan (Halifax, N.S.) was taken down in the box and given a penalty kick in the 13th minute. He made no mistake, booming a shot into the top right corner.

Dalhousie fought back, narrowly tying the game on two separate headers from midfielder Freddy Bekkers (Halifax, N.S.) in the 17th and 21st minutes.

The home side kept the pressure on and would tie the game at one in the 26th minute off of a header in the box from defender Pawel Gorski (Halifax, N.S.).

Acadia had the best chance for a second goal with just over 10 minutes to play in the half.

Forward Travis Fenning (Ottawa, Ont.) was able to beat Dalhousie goaltender TJ Leopold (Bedford, N.S.), but not the goalpost, keeping the game locked up 1-1 heading into halftime.

Both sides traded chances throughout the first 30 minutes of the second half, before Dalhousie ultimately took their first lead of the contest, courtesy of striker Mo Karkada (Halifax, N.S.) in the 75th minute.

The Tigers goal was the result of some crisp passing, as midfielder Hassan Alnuwaysir (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) fed the ball all the way across the box from the left side and Karkada was there for the finish.

The Axemen made quick work of the Dalhousie lead however, responding just three minutes later, as Berrigan notched his second goal of the game off a shot from inside the box.

After the visitors tied the matchup, both back lines began to tighten up, as the game ended in an exciting 2-2 tie.

The Subway Players of the Game were Pawel Gorski for Dalhousie and defender Andrew Snyder (Bridgewater, N.S.) for Acadia.

With the draw, Acadia remains two points ahead of Dalhousie in the standings, at 5-1-1, compared to the Tigers record of 3-0-5.

Dalhousie's next action goes on Sunday, Oct.16 as they host Mount Allison, while Acadia will also play at home on the same date, but against StFX.

Submitted by Mike Still, Dalhousie Athletics