Game recap by Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – Under the bright lights of the Wanderers Grounds field, the Dalhousie Tigers hosted the Saint Mary's Huskies in the 2018-19 AUS season opener. After a quiet first half, the chances picked up in the second, but neither side was able to find a goal as this one ended in a scoreless draw.
The Huskies got the early action going with Tyler Dorey (Dartmouth, NS) with an attempt from the right side of the box forcing Tigers keeper Ben Grondin (Calgary, AB) to make an outstretched save in the opening minutes.
Both sides were able to get a few shots towards the goal during the remainder of the half, but there were no threatening chances to be found before the break.
As the whistle blew, the teams went into half still sitting at nil-nil.
Once again the actioned opened early in the half with Enrico Rodriguez (Halifax, NS) breaking in right off the opening kick. Rodriguez took a swing at the lower corner, but Christian Oxner (Halifax, NS) was able to get on top of it.
Another chance came for the Tigers on a free-kick taken by Kallen Heenan from just outside the 18, but Oxner got a hand on the high shot and was able to tip it over the bar cleanly.
Abdoulaye Barry (Conakry, Guinea) picked up some key chances for the Huskies, the best of which coming in the 70th minute when a perfectly placed ball came into the box for him, with Grondin charging out to meet him. Barry hammered his shot toward the goal, but Grondin was able to get in front and smother the ball.
The Huskies had the best chance of the half to break the deadlock when Cian Tousignant-ó Siadhail (Timberlea, NS) broke into the box on a run and took a strike down low on Grondin, but once again the keeper was able to lay out to make the stop.
With that, the final whistle blew with neither side finding the back of the net in this one.
The Subway Player of the Game was Tigers keeper Ben Grondin, keeping his team in it with some stellar saves.
The Tigers are back on the pitch on Sunday when they travel take on Mount Allison in an away game. The Huskies are back in action on Sunday as well when they host Acadia.