(HALIFAX, NS) The Dalhousie Tigers beat the UNB REDS 2-1 Saturday, in the Atlantic University Sport season opener for both teams.
The game was played in front of a Wickwire Field limit of 250 people.
The Tigers came flying out of the gate, and were one step ahead of the REDS for the first 15 minutes. UNB managed to catch their feet and forced a turnover in the 30th minute, just outside the Tigers 18-yard box, that resulted in their first good chance of the game. A cross into the goal area that was thwarted by Dal keeper Annabel Gravely (Toronto, ON).
The REDS kept their foot on the gas, but would only be rewarded with a few corner kicks.
After some sustained pressure of their own, the Tigers were rewarded with a goal in the 40th minute by Kaitlyn Woodworth (Bridgewater, NS). Riley Donovan (Toronto, ON) tipped the ball into a perfect area for Woodworth to fire into the bottom left corner.
UNB was pressuring before the half for an equalizer, but the REDS' Madison Goertz (Saskatoon, SK) fired a shot a foot too high that rang off the crossbar and went out of play and the Tigers took their 1-0 lead into halftime.
At the start of the second, UNB continued their pressure with a short range cross into the box. This chance resulted in the best save of the game, to that point, by Gravely off a header from UNB's Jesse Bellamy (St. Catharines, ON) in the 46th minute.
The 61st minute saw the Tigers extend their lead to two, off a tap-in goal by Chloe Richardson (Calgary, AB).
Once again, the REDS responded with some strong play. Gravely had to be sharp making incredible back-to-back saves off a free kick and close range rebound chance.
In the 81' minute Richardson was looking for her second goal of the game as she flew by the Reds defenders on the right side of the pitch and fired a shot into the side of the net. She kept on the offensive and minutes later took a pass that forced REDS' keeper Brynn Nash (Saskatoon, ON) to make a remarkable save, one of her seven in the match.
That save seemed to change the tide for the REDS, as one minute later, in the 89th, Goertz fired a long ball from 10 yards inside half that was just out of reach of Gravely and flew under the crossbar and into the back of the net.
Unfortunately for UNB that's all they could muster, and the Tigers took the match by a score of 2-1.
Dalhousie's Josie Oickle (Lewis Lake, NS) earned Subway Player of the game honours.
UNB returns to action Sunday when they visit Acadia for a 1:00pm kick-off.
Dal's next match comes Thursday, when they visit Saint Mary's for an evening match.
RECAP BY: Troy Langstaff/for Dal Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Trevor MacMillan/for Dal Athletics