Sea~Hawks can only fly higher after first road trip.

The Sea~Hawks Soccer teams kicked off their first road trip of the season by facing what may be their stiffest competition of the 2011 season, transportation off of our beloved island. For those of you keeping score at home both Sea~Hawks teams did come up empty in their quest for points but the coaching staff has to be pleased with the performance of their teams this weekend as they fought hard and fast with two of the most balanced teams the AUS will throw at them this season and they were well rested.

   

WOMEN'S ACTION

   

In what might have been the most difficult travel arrangements that Coach Walt Mavin has ever experienced. The Sea~Hawks were able to finally depart from St. John's a little before midnight Friday night with hopes of arriving in Sydney, Nova Scotia by mid to late morning with ample opportunity to rest for the 5pm kick off versus CBU. Unfortunately, our ladies in red hit a few bumps in the road before ever actually seeing that road. Upon Arriving on CBU 's campus in time for their game the Sea~Hawks were well prepared to give the high flying Capers a game and that is exactly what shook down. The Capers jumped out to a 2 goal lead in the first half but thanks in large part to some strategic moves by Coach Mavin and strong leadership by Lauren Windsor and Memorial player of the game Jennifer Burry, the Sea~Hawks were able maintain composure and keep within striking distance until the late going where CBU's attack was much too strong for the shorthanded and fatigued back line of the Sea~Hawks. Second Year defender Maria Oliver was forced to miss the road trip due to a hamstring injury and third year co-captain Windsor was moved up to the right side for the second half allowing Mavin to test the ability of some of his younger players. They were tested but in the end the twelve hours of travel and little sleep caught up to the young Sea~Hawks side who eventually lost 5-0, with the remaining goals coming in the final 20 minutes of play.

     

In the second game of the weekend trip the Sea~Hawks were faced with a team that was playing well rested after having Saturday off. In the early going Keeper Simone Quinlan was the star of the game making big save after big save as STFX quick forwards were playing just a step ahead of the sluggish Sea~Hawks. Quinlan was very aggressive to start and too aggressive according to the officials as they awarded STFX a penalty kick for what appeared to be rough play by Quinlan, the shot went wide and the defence steered the ball away from further trouble. After a brisk opening twenty minutes the Sea~Hawks including first year Nicole Jesso who left the previous game with a leg injury gained control of the tempo of the game and generated some scoring chances including a booming shot over the cross bar and through the uprights by fifth year Lauren Murphy. Off the subsequent goal kick STFX Keeper Anna Thompson was able to help her team get the ball downfield where speedster Olivia Zanette fired a shot destined for the back of the net just under the crossbar until Memorial's Quinlan made a spectacular vertical stab at the shot, the ball was deflected straight into the air only to bounce directly behind her fallen body and into the net at the 34th minute.

   

The Sea~Hawks were down a goal after half time but made some great adjustments and began to exchange opportunities with the X-Women. At times stifling their attack and generating some confusion amongst the X-Women leading to an X own goal that was awarded to Heather Williams. For Williams it was her second of the season. The second half did see the Sea~Hawks forwards begin to hit their stride as Maxine Morris and Jennifer Burry got in close and really showed their younger teammates an aggressive attack. The timing was still a little off as the Hawks were whistled offside's a few times during the opening 15 minutes. One of those offside's calls led the X-Women back on the attack and the Sea~Hawks new found offensive energy came at the expense of some defensive miscues that led to Quinlan taking a stiff kick from an STFX forward. Once play resumed the Sea~Hawks seemed to be making some headway until Burry smacked heads with an X midfielder playing back. Once play resumed the X found themselves deep within the offensive zone and were awarded a corner kick in the 72nd minute. Jordan Bass after some serious contact with Keeper Simone Quinlan was able to get the ball past the goal line scoring what was the eventual game winner. The Young and fatigued Sea~Hawks battled valiantly but the timely substitutions by X Coach Trevor Reddick allowed the X-Women to withstand the charge and prevail 2-1 at the final whistle.

     

The Sea~Hawks (1-2-1) return home for a weekend off of game action and to continue to build upon an exciting opening couple of weeks. Maria Oliver and Kim Hickman missed the opening road trip due to injury while first year forward Janine Battcock was bed ridden all weekend due to the flu. The Sea~Hawks play Saint Mary's on September 30.

   

MEN'S ACTION

There has been a lot of chatter about the depth and talent that the Memorial Men's program is touting and the guys appear to have been coming together nicely off the field but on the field the men are just misfiring to begin the season. After over 12 hours of travel to get off the island on Friday night and into Sydney, NS on Saturday the Sea~Hawks had a very well rested CBU side waiting for them. The Capers who were salivating at the thoughts of revenge after losing to the upstart Sea~Hawks on home turf last year took the game to the Sea~Hawks who were down 2-0 at half time and limited the high powered offence of CBU to just 3 goals. Forward Steven Delong notched his second of the season in the 87th minute.

     

In the second game of Men's road trip the Sea~Hawks clearly struggled to generate any offence being outshot 30-3 by the X-Men. Michael Bartellas got his first start in goal for the Sea~Hawks and undoubtedly he and his back line will be having nightmares after facing all those shots. The Sea~Hawks really struggled to find an offensive identity and the few times they thought they were close they were they were whistled offside's. Defensively in spite of the barrage of shots the Sea~Hawks were able to withstand the STFX attack until the 63rd minute when the levy broke and X scored three goals within a 10 minute span and trailed 3-0. X would later add a fourth marker in the 81st minute sending the Sea~Hawks into their bye week with 1-3 record to start the season. The Men resume game action on September 30th versus Saint Mary's.

     

Next weekend Memorial's Men and Women's Cross Country teams will look to build upon last year's AUS third place team finishes as they kick their season into high gear at the Acadia meet in Wolfville, NS, as they compete against their AUS rivals. Tune in mid week for the Cross Country season preview.