WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The Axewomen soccer team continue to win with their last two wins on the road in Halifax versus Dalhousie last Sunday September 13 and this past weekend's win against Mount Allison in Sackville, N.B..
The story of both games was a comeback second half and a winning goal by fourth year striker Meghan Earle. Earle leads the AUS in scoring with 6 goals and one assist.
Against the Dalhousie Tigers, the Axewomen finished the first half tied with the Tigers at one on a Kinsella Noseworthy-Smith goal. Earle would score the eventual game winner in the 6-1 win over Dalhousie. Noseworthy-Smith had a three goal match after answering Earle's goal with two additional goals. Teammates Jenna Boudreau and Gemma LeBlanc added the final two goals. Noseworthy-Smith sits tied with Cape Breton's Keona Simmonds with 6 points in the AUS points race.
"I think we owe a lot to the camaraderie amongst the players right now when you look at how we're doing. We've always been a united team and the players work hard at it. It's great to see it take hold so early in the year. I believe the talent is there regardless but it helps when we learn to play for eachother. To be honest, we are still trying to learn how to keep pushing when things are going well", pointed out head coach Amit Batra. Adding, "With that said, the score doesn't reflect how tough that game was and that we were down 1-0 and had to fight to get to 1-1 by halftime. In the second half we worked hard to make things go our way. We look forward to playing them again because they are an experienced and well-coached club and they will know how to turn things around."
In Acadia's second road game this past Friday evening in Sackville, N.B., the Axewomen pulled off a 2-1 win despite peppering Mount Allison Mountie starting keeper Tessa Ritchie with 20 shots on goal.
Acadia's Emma Connell was beat late in the first half giving the Mounties a 1-0 lead into the halftime. Acadia responded with their first of two goals in the second half when Michelle Pryde scored her first of the regular season. Earle added the game winner with 16 minutes remaining in the match.
"We've always found Mount Allison to be a tough opponent - every score has been close in my time. I felt good about the chances we created and we were a little unlucky to not be ahead having hit two crossbars in the first half", said Batra. "Mount Allison for their part marked us well and created counter-attack chances and they capitalized late in the first half. For us to come back and gain experience in a game where things are quite going our way and still pick up three points on the road is a positive."
The Axewomen improve to 3-0-0 with a matchup against the reining AUS champion Memorial Sea-Hawks this coming Friday at 5pm. It is Minor Soccer Night.