(SAINT JOHN, NB) The UNB REDS scored their second win of the season, beating the Saint Mary's Huskies 1-0 in an Atlantic University Sport game played at the Canada Games Stadium, on the campus of UNB Saint John.
"That feels very good," said REDS keeper and Subway Player of the Game Brynn Nash (Saskatoon, SK). "I think that, this season, it was coming together, slowly but surely, but we needed this win to carry us into the second half of our season."
The REDS scored the game's only goal after Madison Goertz (Saskatoon, SK) was taken down inside the box in the 21st minute. Jesse Bellamy (St. Catharines, ON) scored on the ensuing penalty, beating Huskies' keeper Soninka Nandha (Surrey, BC), who guessed right, but couldn't get to the ball.
The Huskies were able to push into the REDS zone a few times during the first half, but spent much of the time defending against an aggressive UNB side.
The second half saw the Huskies up their aggressiveness, but UNB continue to push.
As the half wore on, the REDS spent an increasing amount of time in the Saint Mary's end.
With less than 12 minutes to play, the REDS got two big saves from Nash.
The first, a reaching punch of a high shot that then went out of play off the football goal posts. The second, on the ensuing corner kick, when she pulled the kick from the air and went to the ground.
"That win came from perseverance, a lot of grit and just determination to get the ball to the back of the net," said Nash. "I think that was something we were struggling with in the first half of the season, but something that showed today is that we wanted to score goals and we're capable of it."
"I think we're all kind of upset," said veteran Huskies' midfielder Anelise Karakostas (Victoria, BC). "I don't think we played well. We didn't feel we played well in the first half, it was very static and the ball was just getting passed around, but I think we changed a lot in the second half, so it was a bad result in the end, because we did work hard."
With the win, the REDS are now 2-5-2, while the Huskies remain winless at 0-6-3.
Up next for the Huskies, a visit to l'Université de Moncton on Saturday. Kick-off is 1:00pm
The REDS visit les Aigles Bleues on Sunday. That game, too, starts at 1:00pm.
RECAP: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS: Kevin Barrett/for UNB Athletics