U SPORTS No. 7 Axewomen double No. 2 Cape Breton

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The U SPORTS No. 7 ranked Acadia Axewomen improved to 5-0 on Sunday when they defeated the No. 2 Cape Breton University Capers by a score of 2-1. The Axewomen won both of their games at home this weekend and are in sole possession of first place in the AUS standings.

Both teams entered Sunday's game looking to maintain their perfect regular-season records.

Acadia striker Jenna Boudreau (Halifax, N.S.) took off down the right side of the field and got a clean shot on net which was deflected by Capers goaltender Rachel Yerxa (Mississauga, Ont.), but a failed attempt to clear the ball resulted in an own-goal for the Capers. After nine minutes of play, the score read 1-0 for the Axewomen.

At the 21 minute mark, Acadia goalie Sarah Charnock (Newmarket, Ont.) took a hard hit and fell to the ground, but after a few minutes, she would be alright.

Boudreau had another goal gifted to her after a shot from teammate Jacqueline Stevens (Kentville, N.S.) came right to her off the post. She tapped in her first goal of the game to bring the score to 2-0.

The Capers had their fair chance of opportunities to score in the first half. Charnock and her defense were only able to hold the Capers off for so long, and in the 43rd minute, Caleigh MacPherson (New Waterford, N.S.) picked up a rebound out front and sent it into an open net.

The initial shot by Rachel Leck (Pickering, Ont.) had Charnock beat and put her out of position to save the rebound. Leck's key contribution to her team's efforts earned her a Caper Player of the Game award.

Going into halftime the score was 2-1 for Acadia.

Charnock made a last-second save at 61' to maintain the Axewomen lead.

Acadia almost had an insurance goal in the 86th minute, but a great save by Yerxa tipped the shot aside.

Fatou Ndiaye (Pierrefonds, Que.) had a breakaway chance in the 90th minute, but it was Charnock again with the save. More than once Charnock bailed her team out and earned them the win. It was no surprise she was her team's Subway Player of the Game.

With no scoring in the second half, the Axewomen took the game by a final score of 2-1.

"I think we finally got a full game of 90 minutes in," said Charnock after the win. "Oftentimes we come out hard but we have little lulls throughout the game, so being able to stay competitive for the whole game was great."

The Axewomen head to Memorial University next weekend for a two-game series starting on Saturday.

The Capers will be hosting the Université de Moncton on Saturday afternoon.

Provided by Theodore Giesen, Acadia Athletics Communications