(HALIFAX, NS) Goalkeeper Grace Morrison (Halifax, NS) posted an 11-save clean sheet to lead the Saint Mary's Huskies to a 2-0 win over the UNB REDS on Friday night at Huskies Stadium in Halifax.
The two team's exchanged chances early in the match, with strikers Halle Williams (Hamilton, ON) and Alexandra Hughes-Goyette (Garibaldi Highlands, BC), each having scoring opportunities, but unable to find the opening goal.
As the first half went on, the REDS began to ramp up the offence, applying pressure to the Huskies backline. In the 31st minute, midfielder Jesse Bellamy (St. Catharines, ON) broke into the box, and was tripped by Huskies defender Madlyn Blinn (Lower Sackville, NS), giving the REDS a penalty kick. Bellamy aimed to the bottom right of the goal and Morrison guessed correctly, diving to make the save.
That was just the first of a series of tremendous saves by Morrison, as she made five more highlight reel stops over the next eight minutes of play.
The REDS outshot the Huskies 8-1 in the first half, but Morrison stopped all eight attempts and the two teams headed into the locker room tied 0-0 after 45 minutes.
In the second half, the teams continued to battle for a go-ahead goal, with neither able to find many offensive opportunities, until the 81st minute, when Julia Dorey (Cole Harbour, NS) sent a cross into the box. Huskies midfielder Anelise Karakostas (Victoria, BC) got on the other side and somehow directed the ball over the REDS goalkeeper into the top left corner of the goal. Karakostas' fifth goal of the campaign put the Huskies up 1-0.
Just over five minutes later the Huskies would tack on an insurance marker, as a freekick from Blinn sailed to the other side of the box, where striker Allie Martin (Halifax, NS), controlled it with one touch before firing a high shot into the goal to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
Morrison was named Subway Player of the Game.
The Huskies win improved their record to 5-4-2. They'll be back on home turf next Saturday, as they host the Memorial Sea-Hawks.
The REDS loss dropped their record to 2-3-4. UNB visits Acadia on Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:00pm.
Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / SMU Huskies Athletics