REDS And Axewomen Weather Storm In Draw

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS rallied late to draw the Acadia Axewomen 1-1 in the torrential downpour of Post Tropical Storm Lee on Saturday at UNB's BMO Centre.

Sophia Maillet (Fredericton, NB) scored in the first minute of stoppage time to tie the game in the dying moments for the REDS.

"We came into today knowing that whoever was going to be the grittiest team was going to come out with the win," said Maillet. "We had an unlucky goal get scored on us, but we didn't stop. We just kept going and finally were able to find the back of the net and come out with the tie".

It was a back-and-forth first half with both teams exchanging opportunities to start the match.

The best chance of the half came when Acadia's Sydney Kennedy (Fletcher's Lake, NS) fired a shot in of REDS keeper Lauren Kelly (Fredericton, NB) who was forced into making a big save on a tricky ball that was being carried by the wind.

"These are probably the scariest kind of conditions for a goalkeeper to play in," said Kelly. "You can never really predict where the ball is going to go, but I had really good support from my teammates, and they kept me going throughout the match."

UNB's best chance came in the 29th minute when Heidi Lauwerijssen (Kensington, PE) cross was headed just off the crossbar by Aurora Hughes-Goyette (Garibaldi Highlands, BC).

The teams stay locked even 0-0 at the halftime break.

In the 75th minute, Acadia finally broke the deadlock as Kennedy found the back of the net off a free kick to give the Axewomen the 1-0 lead.

The REDS continued to push for the tying goal applying a ton of pressure on the Axewomen's end during the final moments of the match.

UNB thought they had tied the match in the 84th minute as Kristen Hayward (Rothesay, NB) was able to tap in a deflection in front of the net. However, the goal was called off as she was just off-side allowing Acadia to preserve the 1-0 lead.

The REDS wouldn't give up hope though continuing to press and their hard work finally paid off as in the first minute of extra-time Maillet, a late substitution in the game, was able to head home a corner kick from Julia Currie (Sydney, NS) to tie the game late.

"The wind held up that corner from Julia really nice," said Maillet. "I think it landed right on my shoulder and I just tapped it right in. It was exciting to help out my team in that moment".

Maillet was named Tim Horton's Player of the Game on Saturday.

With the draw, the REDS are now 0-3-1 while the Axewomen are 3-0-1.

Acadia will travel to Moncton tomorrow to face the Aigles Bleues at 3:00 pm.

The REDS are set to host the UPEI Panthers on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm at the BMO Centre.

RECAP BY: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Fran Harris/for UNB Athletics