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Women's Soccer Squeaks Out a Hard-Fought Point in Opener

Two goal-line clearances by fourth year defender Anna Lysack (pictured) helped the Blazers hold on to a point on Sunday night as CMU and the USB Rouges battled to a 1-1 draw at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex in Week 1 action of MCAC Women's Soccer.

A fixture that is fast-becoming worthy of circling on your calendar, CMU versus USB brought the MCAC dramatic strorylines in 2017. A six-match shutout streak snapped, ending in the Blazers first loss of the season followed by a home field semifinal defeat highlighted by a heartbreaking second half come back by Les Rouges.

USB striker Mylene Chabot was a central figure in Sunday night's first half. In the 10th minute the second-year rushed down the left wing and took aim at goal only to see CMU goalkeeper Lydia Balsillie dive to her left to make the save. Chabot came close again in the 41st minute when she broke past a charging Balsillie only to see Lysack swoop in to clear the line and keep the match scoreless.

Just before halftime, Camille Plett lifted her team into the lead. A cross coming from Elizabeth Andrews fell at the senior's feet inside the USB penalty area and the 2017 Golden Boot winner made no mistake, sliding in her first goal of 2018 past a stretching Daneige Edey to give CMU a 1-nil advantage heading into the break.

That lead would last a mere three minutes. Shortly after the teams kicked off the second half, Alexis Martin brought the scoreline level when the ball squirted free in front of the CMU goal and the second-year striker bounced on her chance. 1-1 after 48 minutes. Moments later, Plett came close to restoring the advantage for CMU only to have her effort deflected over Edey and the USB goal. On the other end, Lysack's attempted clearance in the 55th minute hit a teammate and fell to Martin, but she too was unable to find a finishing touch worthy of collecting all three points for the visitors.

"Our new players fit in nicely and I thought we defended particularly well," said co-head coach Cara Isaak. "Our goal started with a great build up from the back leading to a through pass and a perfect cross from Elizabeth. Camille did well to get to the box and finish. St. Boniface was very organized and both teams played a really controlled and clean game."

CMU travel to Brandon next Saturday to meet the ACC Cougars and to Otterburne on Sunday for a date with the Providence Pilots in a busy Week 2 in MCAC Women's Soccer. In the other conference women's matchup in Week 1, the Brandon Bobcats and Pilots played to a scoreless draw leaving all four teams equal on points.

In Men's action from Sunday night, CMU and USB played to a 2-2 draw. Paul Odedina collected an assist and scored his first MCAC goal from the penalty spot for the Blazers. Yeri Concepcion was the other CMU goal scorer as the rookie tied the game 1-1 early in the second half.

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