ST. JOHN'S, NL – The Memorial Sea-Hawks women's soccer team put up a valiant fight during two tightly contested matches against the UNB REDS at KGV Stadium on September 6th and 7th. Despite the final scores, the Sea-Hawks showed resilience, skill, and determination in both encounters, narrowly losing each game 1-0 in what proved to be highly physical and competitive battles.

Friday's game saw the Sea-Hawks assert themselves early, with forward Jen Milligan leading the charge. Milligan came close to breaking the deadlock, but UNB's goalkeeper Ava Henry made crucial stops to keep Memorial off the board. The Sea-Hawks' defense, anchored by goalkeeper Leana Claude, also rose to the occasion, denying several close-range attempts from UNB, including a strong effort by REDS forward Sophia Maillet.

The intensity of the game remained high throughout, with both teams pushing for a breakthrough. It wasn't until the 79th minute that UNB managed to capitalize on a rebound, with Maillet finding the net after Claude's initial save. Despite this, the Sea-Hawks continued to press forward with determination, and Milligan nearly leveled the score late in the game, but Henry once again proved to be a wall in net.

Saturday's rematch was another closely fought battle, with the Sea-Hawks showing grit and determination right from the kickoff. Abby Evans and Milligan were relentless in their efforts to create scoring opportunities, putting consistent pressure on the REDS defense. Claude, once again solid in goal, made several key saves to keep the game level through the first half.

The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when UNB's Heidi Lauwerijssen managed to slip a shot past Claude after a well-executed corner. Despite the setback, the Sea-Hawks didn't back down. Zoe Rowe came close to equalizing on two occasions, and the team continued to push forward, fighting until the final whistle.

Though the Sea-Hawks were unable to find the net in either game, their performance showcased their potential and ability to compete at a high level. The team's defensive resilience, combined with the relentless offensive efforts from players like Milligan, Rowe, and Evans, left fans optimistic for the rest of the season.

With a 1-3-0 record, the Sea-Hawks are eager to build on the positives from this weekend as they prepare for their upcoming matches. The fight and tenacity displayed over both games highlight the team's growing strength and determination as they move forward in the season.

Story by: Keeran Mercer, Udantha Chandraratne

Story photos by: Udantha Chandraratne