REDS Win In PKs, Advance To Final
(ANTIGONISH, NS) The top seeds in the 2024 Atlantic University Sport women's soccer championship, the No. 1 Cape Breton Capers and No. 2 UNB REDS will clash for a conference banner on Sunday afternoon.
UNB punched their ticket to the championship game with a thrilling 2-1 victory, in penalties, over the sixth-seeded and host STFX X-Women on Friday evening.
"The girls never quit," said REDS' head coach Jon Crossland. "We needed to send it to extra time, and we were pleased to see that goal go in, especially off a set piece."
Fourth-year keeper Breanna Habinski (Welland, ON), the player of the game for her squad, stoned a pair of X-Women shooters, while Helen Langrehr (Munich, GER), the fourth kicker for the REDS, sealed the deal. Jillian Curtis (Corpus Christi, TX) tallied the third penalty-kick goal for UNB, which turned out to be the game-winner.
In a tight opening half the REDS garnered the lion's share of the offensive zone possession, but they were unable to truly challenge veteran X-Women keeper Christina Gentile (Laval, QC).
By the midway point of the half, STFX began to impose its will on the UNB defense, starting with a nifty through ball from Brynn Jurus (Ancaster, ON) to Lauren Reid (Kanata, ON), who had split a pair of REDS, but she was unable to reach it before rolling into the possession of Habinski.
In the 28th minute, Ava Elgood (Almonte, ON) threaded the needle to Reid, who was racing down the wing, but UNB defender Aurora Hughes-Goyette (Garibaldi Highlands, BC), an AUS first-team all-star, tracked her down and prevented a shot attempt.
In the 40th minute, Elgood gave the host X-Women a 1-0 edge, on a header off a free kick. The REDS cleared the re-direction, but the ball had crossed the goal line.
The X-Women went to the half-time break with that 1-0 lead.
The REDS carried the play for most of the second half, but Gentile made saves on several scoring chances.
In the final seconds of stoppage time, Julia Currie (Sydney, NS) cashed in for the REDS on the second of consecutive corner kicks. Her right-footed strike sailed high, clearing a pair of X-Women defenders before landing in the far corner of the net to make it 1-1.
"Seeing my teammates' faces after the goal was the best feeling I could ask for," said Currie. "Every single one of us was so resilient and working for the full 90 and being able to put the ball in the net, that kept us in the fight to be in the championship that we've worked so hard towards meant the world to me."
Occurring on the final play of regulation, Currie's goal sent the sides to overtime.
Two 15-minute overtime halves solved nothing, forcing the penalties where Habinski and the REDS prevailed.
"We're pleased that our season keeps going," said Coach Crossland. "The girls have done great stuff this season and we're super, super pleased to get to spend the weekend and fight for a banner on Sunday."
UNB outshot STFX 25-12, while holding an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal.
"I'm so proud of everyone for continuing to put in the work for the extra 30 and for finishing it off in P-Ks," said Currie. "This is where we're supposed to be."
Sunday's conference championship game is scheduled for a 1:00pm start. The winner advances to the U SPORTS championship tournament, at Dalhousie, November 7-10.
RECAP BY: Corey LeBlanc/for STFX Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Bryan Kennedy/for STFX Athletics