SYDNEY, N.S. — Alliyah Rowe was lost for words after the Cape Breton University Capers game on Sunday.
The Kitchener, Ont., product scored twice, including the game winner, to lead the No. 2 seed Capers to their third consecutive Atlantic University Sport women's soccer championship, defeating the No. 1 seed Acadia Axewomen 3-2 at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex turf in Sydney.
Cape Breton trailed 2-0 in the first half, before clawing their way back to score three unanswered goals to secure the university's 11th women's soccer title since 2003.
"This is crazy, it doesn't feel like it's happening, it's so insane," said Rowe, who was named the AUS playoff most valuable player following the contest.
"It's my first year with the team and to be able to win the AUS title, it's simply amazing and something really special for me."
Along with Rowe, Rachel Leck also found the back of the net for the Capers in front of 220 fans at the Sydney venue.
Jenna Boudreau and Jacqueline Stevens netted goals for the Axewomen, who posted an undefeated 9-0-3 record in the regular season. The loss was their first of the year.
Graduating netminder Rachel Yerxa made three saves for Cape Breton. Sarah Charnock stopped four of seven shots for Acadia.
Cape Breton controlled a portion of play through the first half, but the momentum changed in the 26th-minute with AUS shots leader Boudreau finding the back of the net to give Acadia a 1-0 lead.
The Axewomen added to their lead a minute later with Jacqueline Stevens' shot from top of the box beating Capers netminder Yerxa in the 27-minute, but Cape Breton responded shortly after with a Leck goal in the 31st-minute.
Rowe tied the game in the 60th-minute deflecting a Mackenna King cross, beating Charnock. The rookie forward would record her second goal of the game in the 62nd-minute, a goal which proved to be the game-winner.
Capers coach Stephen (Ness) Timmons couldn't say enough about the play of Rowe.
"She was magical out there," said Timmons. "She was definitely the game-changer this weekend."
Despite being down 2-0 in the first half, Timmons said the club continued to follow the game plan and were determined to win.
"Last time we played them in the regular season we couldn't get anything going in the second 45, but today the girls wanted to make a difference," said the veteran coach. "Being down two goals in soccer and coming back is not easy, so you credit the girls."
The Capers now advance to the U Sports national women's soccer championship later this week in Victoria, B.C. Cape Breton will take to the field Thursday for their first game, however, the game time and opponent were not confirmed at press time.
Acadia will also attend the national tournament as the AUS second representative.
As for Rowe, she's already looking forward to stepping on the pitch at Centennial Stadium for the national tournament.
"I'm so excited, it's going to be insane, just the experience of getting to play in the nationals," said Rowe. "I can't wait to play more games with these girls — they're amazing and we know what we have to do."
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