Athletics weekend recap: Tigers win on the road

Soccer teams off to a good start

Dalhousie’s soccer playoff aspirations took a huge leap forward with four important victories on the road this past weekend. Both the women’s and men’s squads travelled to New Brunswick to battle l’Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus on Saturday, followed by matches against the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds on Sunday.

The women hit the pitch first, looking to use the previous weekend’s victory against Mount Allison as a source of momentum. It was an action-packed first half with plenty of opportunities, as the black and gold managed to get off five shots. With 65 minutes in,  Emma Landry gave the Tigers the lead, scoring her first goal of the season. Dal never looked back, cruising to the 1-0 victory. Taryn McKenna earned the shutout.

In the second game of the doubleheader the men’s team appeared poised to complete the sweep of les Aigles Bleus. Tyler Lewars put the Tigers ahead near the tail end of the first half to make the score 1-0. L’Université de Moncton were not going to make it easy however; scoring minutes into the second half on a penalty kick. As the game progressed it seemed certain that the game would end in a draw, but in the 81^st minute new recruit Bezick Evraire scored the go-ahead-goal, the first of his career for Dalhousie. Ben Ur stood tall in net, making three saves for the win.

The black and gold hit the pitch again on Sunday, looking to finish the weekend strong.

In an unrelenting performance the women scored four goals against the luckless Varsity Reds. They continued to spread the scoring around, an indicator of some excellent team play. Dorianna Homerski and Anna McKilligan collected points in the first half while Rieka Santilli and Joanna Blodgett ensured the victory with second half goals. Taryn McKenna made three saves for her second shutout of the weekend.

On the men’s side keeper Jason Ross made his first career start for the black and gold as the men’s team handled the University of New Brunswick, winning 2-0. Fourth-year midfielder Julian Perrotta had a standout performance, scoring both of the Tigers goals.

A successful weekend brings both teams records to 3-1.

Cross country teams prepare for a strong season

Next weekend, come out and help the Tigers join the fight against breast cancer Saturday, Sept. 24 as they take on the Cape Breton Capers. At the game there will be special activities including pink T-shirt sales with all proceeds donated to Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Atlantic. The women kickoff at 1 p.m. with the men following up directly after at 3:15 p.m.

The women’s and men’s cross country teams took to the course for the first time this year in an exhibition meet last Saturday. In what may be a preview of AUS competition, Dalhousie and St. Francis Xavier pushed each other until the very end. Dal placed second behind StFX in the women’s 5k while the men battled to another second place finish behind StFX in their race. Tiger Cara Groves took home the second fastest time at 19 minutes and seven seconds, just two seconds off the lead pace set by StFX’s Natalie Kannenberg, and was followed closely by newcomer Ellen Chappel for third. Rookie Matt McNeil was the lead black and gold male runner, finishing second with a time of 24 minutes and 39 seconds.

It promises to be another strong year for the women’s and men’s cross country teams as they prepare for the first meet of the AUS season on Saturday, Sept. 24 in Wolfville.