Panthers, Huskies end in 1-1 draw

HALIFAX, NS—Saint Mary's forward Brooklyn Salgueiro scored the equalizer in the 81st minute, as the Huskies tied the UPEI Panthers 1-1 on Sunday afternoon at Huskies Stadium in Halifax. 

It was the Panthers who took the lead early, with midfielder Juliette Bader (Charlottetown, PEI) crossing the ball to Madi Fisher (Charlottetown, PEI). Fisher's shot hit the goal post but the ball ricocheted back to forward Abby Locke (Dartmouth, NS), who scored her second of the season to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. 

Saint Mary's searched for an equalizer and were able to fire several shots towards the Panthers goal, but goalkeeper Claudia Mazzei (Burlington, ON) was stellar, stopping five shots in the first half, most notably a leaping stop on a high volley from Huskies leading scorer Cara Freeman (Halifax, NS), and the Panthers took a 1-0 lead into halftime. 

Early in the second half, the Panthers were threatening to double their lead, but Huskies goalkeeper Katie Alley (Halifax, NS) was up to the challenge, making several good saves against Panthers forward Wendy Dadzie (Sailpond, PEI). 

Huskies first year super-sub Katelyn Schuler (Edmonton, AB) came on in the second half and made an impact with a pair of shots on goal, but was turned away by Mazzei. 

In the 81st minute, the Huskies finally found their equalizer, as a Panthers clearance attempt bounced back to first year forward Brooklyn Salgueiro (Dartmouth, NS), who took a touch to settle it down and fired a wicked shot from 20 yards out into the top corner to tie it at 1-1. Salgueiro's goal was her second of the season, both coming in the last two games. 

Both teams pushed for a go-ahead goal, but neither team was able to find the winner. Katie Alley made a pair of great saves in the 90th minute against Dadzie and forward Alice Dorsey (Charlottetown, PEI), securing the single point with a 1-1 draw. 

Panthers goalkeeper Claudia Mazzei was named Player of the Game for UPEI, stopping 9/10 shots faced. Brooklyn Salgueiro was named Player of the Game for the Huskies, while Katie Alley stopped four shots in defeat. 

The draw brings the Huskies record to 4-5-2 on the season. They'll have next weekend off before finishing the season on home field on Saturday, Oct. 19 as they host the Cape Breton Capers (7-0-2) at 5 p.m. at Huskies Stadium. 

The Panthers record now stands at 1-6-3 on the campaign. UPEI will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 18, visiting the Acadia Axewomen (5-3-3) at 5 p.m. in Wolfville, NS.

RECAP BY: Allan April, SMU Huskies Athletics / PHOTOS BY: Mona Ghiz, Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics