Game recap by Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – In the Tigers Senior Day matchup, they took on the Mount Allison Mounties for their final game at Wickwire field this season. The Tigers collected three goals from a single source én route to a 3-0 victory in their final homestand.
Controlling much of the possession in the early minutes, the Tigers were able to work the midfield and put some early pressure on the backline of the Mounties.
That continued pressure resulted in free kicks being earned by the Tigers. On another chance from just outside the box was deflected perfectly by Riley Donovan (Toronto, ON), who was lined up with the wall, which set up Maya Venkataraman (Summerland, BC) for a great touch in the box to send her strike to the opposite post to open the scoring.
The Mounties had a great chance on a counter-attack Amanda Piltzmaker (Ottawa, ON) sent a great low cross through the Tigers box for Audrey Ward (Ottawa, ON) coming to the far post, but the tough angle shot sailed just wide of the goal.
The set-piece plays continued to pile up for the Tigers, this time capitalizing on a corner from Catherine Guevin-Nicoloff (Ottawa, ON). The cross came tight to the near post where Venkataraman was waiting to meet it for a tough header that was just out of the reach of the Mounties keeper.
With that, the teams went into the break with the Tigers leading 2-0.
The first 30 minutes of the second half were quiet, as both teams tried to set themselves up with their midfield play but it didn't materialize for either side.
The Tigers were able to break through once again when Rachelle Lalande (Halifax, NS) was able to beat her mark toward the goal line and send a nice ball up to the top of the box for Venkataraman who was streaking in to one-touch the strike and complete the hat trick.
The Mounties were able to put a little bit of pressure on the Tigers in the dying minutes, but time ran out on them, and the Tigers came away with the 3-0 win.
Maya Venkataraman was named the Subway Player of the Game, collecting three-straight goals for a hat trick performance in her final home game.
The Tigers will wrap up their regular season with back to back matchups against Memorial next weekend, while the Mounties will play their final game at UPEI next Saturday.
Following the game, the Tigers honored their graduating seniors, all of which are graduating as Academic All-Canadians. The Tigers seniors are: