Soccer Mounties clinch AUS playoff berth

(SAINT JOHN, NB) The Mount Allison women's soccer Mounties are headed to the AUS women's soccer playoffs. The Mounties tied UNB 1-1 in Friday night action to finish the regular season. With the tie, the Mounties finished the season with a 5-5-2 record and in the process eliminated UNB to punch their ticket to next weekend's AUS women's soccer championship at Cape Breton University.

The REDS, who needed a win to make the playoffs themselves, were ready from the opening whistle. 

About 20 minutes in, REDS' striker Madison Goertz (Saskatoon, SK) had a chance from about 20-yards out, but sent her shot wide of the Mounties' net. 

The REDS broke through the Mounties' defence in the 35th minute when Olivia Crowe (Fall River, NS) found a loose ball in the box and tapped it past Mount Allison's keeper, Sophie Austin (Kanata, ON). Rowinski was able to head the ball into the box, just prior to Crowe's goal, off a long cross. 

UNB went right back to work in the second half. 

Aurora Hughes-Goyette (Squamish, BC) sent a hard kick off the crossbar less than three minutes in. 

A short time later, Shawne Comeau (Fredericton, NB) followed with another shot that was controlled by Austin. 

The Mounties came close in the 59th minute when Kathryn Perry (Riverview, NB) snuck behind the REDS back line and put a shot on a diving Brynn Nash (Saskatoon, SK), who made the save. 

About five minutes later, Nash came out to challenge a Mount Allison push and took down the attacker. Bailey Hatcher (Halifax, NS) took the ensuing penalty kick and made no mistake, evening the score at 1-1. 

Mount Allison would defend vigorously through the remainder of the game. 

The REDS would come close on a couple of scoring chances, but could not find a go-ahead goal. 

The single point clinched a playoff berth for the Mounties. The Mounties will enter the championship either as the 5th or 6th seed, depending on the outcome of Dalhousie's last game at Cape Breton on Saturday. Quarterfinal action will take place on Thursday, November 4th. For the Mounties, it will be their first appearance in the AUS women's soccer playoffs since 2013.