Source: Bart Sears, STFX Sports Information
Antigonish, NS - The visiting Dalhousie Tigers and STFX X-Women each earned a point in an absorbing encounter Friday evening at STFX Stadium, playing to a 0-0 draw.
In an entertaining scoreless first half, each squad made a number of skilful passes and spirited challenges, yet neither side was able to secure the opening goal.
The first half was one in which both team's fullbacks shone brightest. Mairin Canning (Antigonish, NS) for the X-Women and Carley Birrell (Hammonds Plains, NS) for the Tigers showed great first touches, were incisive in their runs and made fine passes to get their respective team going forward.
The best chances for both teams came at the midpoint of the half. Dalhousie captain, Riley Donovan (Toronto, ON), who made a number of good challenges to win the ball back for her team, had a great strike from just outside the 18-yard box that just missed the mark.
Soon after it was STFX's Lauren Reid (Kanata, ON) who made a precise cross to Emma Steen (Stittsville, ON), but the shot was capably handled DAL goalkeeper Annabel Gravely (Toronto, ON).
As the half approached its conclusion, Reid closed in on goal only for Birrell to save a goal for the Tigers.
The second half was also a tight affair with neither team given much time on the ball. Dalhousie midfielder Megan Chiasson (Lower Sackville, NS) asserted herself on proceedings in order to halt X's forward momentum.
For StFX, Subway Player of the Game Jenna Burrows (New Glasgow, NS) was superb as she sniffed out any attempted Tigers forays into X territory.
The introduction of the second half substitutions breathed new life into the game, especially the lime-booted duo of Alyson Bodner (Edmonton, AB) and Chloe Richardson (Calgary, AB) for the Tigers. Hard to miss, they immediately made an impact on proceedings.
Bodner linked the defence and the forwards with good positional play and passing. Richardson had the Tigers best chance of the half when she took a great pass in from Birrell and forced X keeper Christina Gentile (Laval, QC) to come up with her best save of the game.
For StFX, Lauren Seamone (New Germany, NS) and Hannah Yantha (Cambridge, ON) upped the tempo as X continued to test Gravely in the DAL net. With just about five minutes remaining the ball landed at the feet of X-Women captain Amanda Smith (Ottawa, ON) who found herself in tight on goal but was unable to find the back of the net.
The game, fittingly, ended honours even in the scoreless draw.
Dalhousie (4-2-3) will be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Sydney to face the Cape Breton Capers. StFX (5-4-1) will host Mount Allison on Sunday in their final home game. Game time for both matches is 1:00 pm.