Tigers shutout Axemen 2-0 in Halifax

HALIFAX, N.S. - The Dalhousie Tigers Men's Soccer team defeated the Acadia Axemen at Wickwire Field on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers bounced back after a 0-0 draw in their last match to get all three points at home against the Axemen. 

The match began without either team really asserting themselves on the ball. The back-and-forth action didn't allow the two sides to get settled, but it did bring some good chances. 

The best chance of the opening stages came in the 15th minute when Dalhousie's Suliman Elomrani (Halifax, NS) came flying in at the back-post to head the ball on target and force a good save out of Acadia's Dylan Legere (Upper Tantallon) in goal. 

That chance seemed to spur Dalhousie on as only four minutes later the Tigers took a 1-0 lead thanks to Jack Ellis' (Liverpool, ENG) perfect header off the out-swinging corner. 

Acadia then almost leveled the score in the 29th minute. AJ Magamura's (Dubai, UAE) brilliant strike was destined for the top left corner until Aiden Rushenas (Toronto, ON) made a sprawling save at full stretch in the Dalhousie goal to deny the visitors an equalizer. The Axemen kept pushing and again troubled Rushenas in goal when Magamura's low shot had to be pushed behind by the goalkeeper in the 36th minute. 

The first half came to an end with just the lone goal and a 1-0 lead for the home side despite the efforts of the visiting Axemen. 

Dalhousie was close to doubling their lead only a few minutes into the second half when a sudden shot off a loose ball in the Acadia box hit the post on the second phase of a corner. 

The Tigers were able to find a second goal in the 57th minute when, after Dalhousie cleared a freekick, Mohammed Jaber (Halifax, NS) pinched the ball in midfield and played Elomrani in behind the Acadia defence. The winger made no mistake when face to face with the goalkeeper and buried the shot. 

A quick response almost arrived from Acadia when Liam Kelly's (Abbotsford, BC) bicycle kick from inside the box just couldn't drop under the bar in the 60th minute. 

The final half an hour saw a lot of action in the middle third and just a late shot on goal from Acadia's Toni Adeoye (Dartmouth, NS) to highlight the action. So, thanks to a goal in both halves, the Dalhousie Tigers came away with a 2-0 home victory over the Acadia Axemen. 

Dalhousie's Suliman Elomrani was named the Subway Player of the Game with a goal and four shots on goal. AJ Magamura had three shots and two shots on goal to lead the way for the Acadia Axemen. 

Dalhousie's next game comes on Friday when the Tigers play Moncton at 7:15 pm at Wickwire Field, while the Axemen host UPEI this Thursday night.

The next test for Acadia is on Thursday at 7:15 pm when they host UPEI.