MUN climbs to second place after imperious performances
The Memorial University Sea-Hawks women’s soccer team are in second place in the Atlantic University Sport conference, and are nipping at the heels of the first place UNB Varsity Reds after a pair of incredible wins against the UPEI Panthers and Dalhousie Tigers. The Sea-Hawks demolished the Panthers 5-0 on October 25 and an incredible last gasp 2-1 victory against Dalhousie on October 26.
Against the Panthers, MUN showed no mercy. Electric rookie Emily Bailey added to her team leading goal tally almost immediately, taking two minutes and change to register a rocket of an opener on Memorial’s first shot of the game. Second leading scorer Jesse Noseworthy would not be outdone so easily, heating up her scoring contest with Bailey with a goal at the 34 minute mark. Memorial switched off with the beginning of the second half, happy to knock the ball around and frustrate the opposition with extended periods of possession that left the Panthers chasing shadows. However, an incredible final few minutes saw the Sea-Hawks blow the doors off this game, with three goals in as many minutes for Bailey, Jenny Tiller, and Hannah Rivkin at the death. Rivkin had a dominant game, shrugging off challenges in the center of the park, and simply imposing her will, making key pass after pass and dribbling effortlessly through the UPEI ranks. Hannah Noseworthy and Jamie Crocker split time in goal, with neither truly tested by any memorable efforts.
Dalhousie would prove a much tougher test for the high-flying Sea-Hawks. Rivkin would open the scoring for Memorial with a dazzling bit of individual play in the first half, but the Tigers turned the screws ever tighter, and equalized through Victoria Parkinson with an hour gone. Their momentum lost, it seemed as if the Sea-Hawks had run out of answers. Rivkin, however, would not give up so easily. The ex-McGill star picked up possession with time winding down in the 90th and rifled home an amazing effort with no time to spare, sending the elated Sea-Hawks to victory.
The favourable results mean the Sea-Hawks (9-3-1) have clinched a playoff berth handily, with plenty of games to spare. Their sights are now firmly fixed on the UNB Varsity Reds (10-1-2), who defeated the Sea-Hawks in their season opening pair. Since then, the Sea-Hawks have not looked back, their names now known throughout the conference as forces to be reckoned with. With amazing team chemistry, goals coming from all over, and a positively sterling goals against ratio, the Sea-Hawks will steam ahead to the playoffs and hope their past shortcomings in the postseason can serve as lessons from which to springboard themselves to bigger and better things in the AUS and beyond.
Whatever the future has in store for Coach Walt Mavin’s team, it is clear Memorial has not known a clinical, dominant team like this one for some time. With a winning team scoring lots and having fun, the atmosphere is infectious, and the message clear – enjoy it while you can, sports fans.