X-Women remain undefeated with win over UNB

FREDERICTON, NB - The STFX X-Women needed a little help in beating the UNB REDS on Sunday.

The U SPORTS No. 10 X-Women scored a second half goal and benefitted from a REDS own goal to defeat UNB 2-1.

The game was played at Fredericton's Willie O'Ree Place Complex.

The REDS were the first to apply any sort of pressure, pushing into the offensive zone in the 10^th minute and forcing the X-Women to scramble defensively.

The X-Women countered with a couple of early opportunities of their own, but it was the home side that struck first.

In the 34^th minute, Jillian Larose (Ottawa, ON) fired a shot past X-Women keeper Christina Gentile (Laval, QC) to give UNB a 1-0 lead, a lead they'd take to the locker room at half time.

The second half saw X press early, in search of an equalizer.

That pressure paid off in the 56^th minute, when Amanda Smith's (Ottawa, ON) shot from just outside the 18-yard box eluded UNB keeper Brynn Nash (Saskatoon, SK).

"I feel like I had a lot of time and I'd had some opportunities in the first half," said Smith, named Subway Player of the Game. "I kept my head up, took my time, saw the corner and took the shot."

In the 74^th minute, the X-Women took the lead when a REDS defender, attempting to lift a loose ball in the crease over the net, scored an own goal.

In the 90^th minute, a collision in the STFX 18-yard box saw Gentile go down and, eventually, leave the game, replaced by Jordyn Pratt (Calgary, AB) for the final moments.

"There were ebbs and flows in the second half where we dealt with it really well and there was a spell where we didn't deal with it well and they scored two goals," said REDS head coach Jon Crossland. "They're a good team. You give them enough chances in and around the box and they will score."

"I think we outplayed them," said Smith. "We knew it was coming, we missed a few chances in the first half, but we knew we'd get one and we pushed really hard in the second. I think it was well deserved by the team."

With the win, the X-Women move atop the Atlantic University Sport standings at 4-and-0, while UNB drops to 1-and-3.

"I'm disappointed with the result, but for pieces of that game it was one of our better performances of the season so far, so if there's a small victory, it's good to see that progression," said Crossland.

The REDS see their next action on Friday, when they travel to Sackville to face Mount Allison.

The X-Women host Memorial next Sunday.

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Courtesy Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics