WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Jenna Boudreau's goal five minutes into the second half was the eventual game winner as the Axewomen soccer team handed the visiting UNB Varsity Reds a 3-0 loss in the AUS season opening game at Acadia's Raymond Field.
Outshooting the V-reds 7-2, Acadia posted three goals in the second half that included a great goal by Boudreau's effort with the ball on the end line. Boudreau eventually kicked a low shot at an in-close angle to the far side of the net past UNB goal keeper Rebecca Duda.
Thirteen minutes later Alexandra Scovil scored the Axewomen's second goal of the game to give the Axewomen a 2-0 lead with 27 minutes remaining in the game.
Annie Little, off the bench, added the insurance goal at the 76th minute to give the Axewomen a comfortable 3-0 win over the Varsity Reds.
The Subway Player of the Game, Emily Nickerson, pointed out that the team had a slow start in the first half under a new formation.
"We definitely stuck with the game plan, because we wanted to really put them under pressure in the middle. We are playing a new formation, so we are getting adjusted to that. We didn't want to give up and we were attacking, specially their wing backs. We were able to settle down and be really cohesive in the second half," said Nickerson.
"We are definitely a different team this year, but we still have the great work ethic and cohesion from last season," added Nickerson.
Head coach Amit Batra indicated that the new formation used this season is based on the different talent the team has this year.
"The personnel we have this year is different than what we played with last year. We lost some key players last year, but we have some great returners this year and they have stepped up. Since it is a different team than last year, I think this (system and formation) fits us better," noted Batra.
The Axewomen take on Dalhousie this Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in their second home game of the weekend, while the UNB Varsity Reds play Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at Dalhousie. Both games are on AUStv.ca