CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - A balanced attack across Acadia's forward line proved to be lethal, as the Axewoman shut out the UPEI Panthers 3-0.
Third-year winger Jayden Boudreau and rookie forwards Rosie Nichols and Grace Somers each scored to help the Axewomen (2-1-0) extend their win streak to two games.
Rookie striker Alli Kelly, who assisted on the Nichols goal and was named the Subway Player of the Game, credits the team's quick understanding of how to utilize each other up front as the difference in the game.
"We worked really hard together and finally connected on some goals," she said. "It was a well-deserved win."
The same couldn't be said for the Panthers, who struggled to create chances, especially in a second half that was largely controlled by Acadia.
UPEI head coach Lewis Page said he's encouraging his players to push the ball and take chances on offence, but after years of playing with a goal prevention mindset, the message hasn't quite made its way through yet.
"We didn't have the courage to go forward and try to get past players. You have to have courage; you have to have confidence and you have to believe in yourself to score goals."
Still, the Panthers battled and had a chance to open the scoring in 12th minute when a Lauren Clark corner kick sailed beyond the keeper and rattled around the box before Milena Ramirez scooped the ball to safety.
The Axewomen broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Boudreau took a great pass from Grace Longley, sidestepped goalkeeper Veronica Kozak and fired it in the open net.
UPEI nearly found the equalizer before halftime on Braylan MacEachern attempt on goal. After Clark found the second-year forward to her left, MacEachern took a touch and from the edge of the 18-yard box fired it high off Ramirez's hands and off the crossbar.
Knowing they dodged a couple bullets in the first 45 minutes, Acadia came out of the break strong and wasted little time to add to the scoreboard. In the 54th minute, Nichols redirected a deep cross from Kelly past Ali Muise, who replaced the injured Kozak after the opening goal.
"We were fully in attack mode in the second half," Kelly said. "We knew what runs we needed to take to get the ball in the net."
The Axewomen struck again in the 74th minute when Rebecca LeBlanc delivered a pass wide to Somers, who took it up the left side and from a tough angle tucked a long shot in the top right corner to seal the 3-0 win.
The Panthers return to the pitch next Saturday when they welcome the Saint Mary's Huskies to Charlottetown.
By Thomas Becker