Axewomen battle to 3-3 tie in entertaining match against Capers

WOLFVILLE – In a thrilling match on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 6), the Acadia Axewomen (5-3-3) battled the undefeated Cape Breton University (CBU) CAPERS (7-0-2) to a 3-3 draw in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) action at Ness Timmons Field. 

Acadia wasted no time, stunning the home crowd on CBU's Senior Day with an early goal just 90 seconds into the match. Abby Girard (Dartmouth, NS) capitalized on a sharp feed from Riley Bonadie (Ottawa), putting the visitors in front 1-0.

Though CBU's star forward Alliyah Rowe (Kitchener, ON) equalized in the 13th minute after an initial save by Acadia goalkeeper Milena Ramirez (Wolfville, NS), the Axewomen quickly regained the lead. Madyson Harris (Harmony, NS) pounced on a rebound in the 18th minute after Brenna Kennedy's (Fletcher's Lake, NS) corner kick, putting Acadia back ahead 2-1.

Acadia stretched their lead further in the 37th minute, when Bonadie, assisted by Lauren Clarke (Dartmouth, NS), placed a strike inside the right post to give the Axewomen a commanding 3-1 lead.

Despite Acadia's two-goal cushion, the CAPERS fought back, with Alliyah Rowe scoring her second goal of the match just before halftime, making it 3-2. The Axewomen carried a slim lead into the break, but knew the battle wasn't over.

The second half saw Cape Breton push hard for the equalizer, but Acadia's defense, anchored by standout goalkeeper Milena Ramirez and defender Mya Harnish (Lower Sackville, NS), held strong. Ramirez made several critical saves, including a fingertip deflection on a strike from Lauren Rowe.

In the 69th minute, however, CBU capitalized on an Acadia back pass, with Grace Hannaford (Enfield, NS) intercepting the ball and tucking it into the net to level the score at 3-3.

Though the CAPERS dominated possession late in the match, the Axewomen's defense held firm to secure a hard-earned draw. Ramirez and Harnish were pivotal in preserving the result, with Harnish earning player of the game honors for Acadia.

With the draw, Acadia showed they can compete with the best in the AUS, and they'll look to build on this momentum when they host the UPEI Panthers on Friday, Oct. 18, in Wolfville. Game time is set for 5 p.m. ADT.