Axewomen battle back to tie game 2-2 vs Tigers

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - With a slow start in the first half, the Axewomen soccer team picked up a 2-2 tie against the visiting Dalhousie Tigers. Senior midfielder Kinsella Noseworthy Smith (Wolfville, N.S.) picked up the unassisted tying goal with three minutes remaining in the game.

Rachelle Lalande (Halifax, N.S.) scored the Tigers' opening goal just under four minutes into the game on a long kick that sailed over Axewomen keeper Emma Connell (Hampton, N.S.).

Out-shot 9-8 by Dalhousie after one half, Acadia picked up the pace in the second half and sniper Meghan Earle (Mount Pearl, Nfld.) scored her eighth goal of the season to tie the game at one at the 54 minute mark from 40 yards out.

Kristy McGregor-Bale (Ottawa, Ont.) scored the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick with 20 minutes remaining in the game to give the Tigers back the lead.  Noseworthy Smith netted the tying goal.

The Axewomen's slow first half start has been an issue for Acadia this season. Acadia's head coach Amit Batra agreed that the team has been plagued with a low performance in opening half. "We have to get rid of our slow starts. It was nice to have Meghan (Earle) in for the last 45 minutes to help our comeback. It was good that our team fought back from a 1-0 and 2-1 deficits. If we can get rid of our slow start, we should be able to get the results more in our favour."

Tiger keeper Katie Morgan (Calgary, Alta.) posted 10 saves and defended 19 shots while Acadia's Connell pulled in seven saves on 14 shots.

The fifth place Axewomen improve to 3-1-2 and head to StFX on Sunday afternoon to take on the first place 4-0-1 X-Women, while Dalhousie sit in sixth place with a 2-3-2 record  hosts the 1-4-1 UPEI Panthers in Halifax.