Albright’s late heroics lift CAPERS over STFX in 2–1 thriller

By Corey LeBlanc

(SYDNEY, N.S.) The defending champion and host Cape Breton CAPERS, ranked No. 3, rallied in the second half to earn a thrilling 2–1 victory over the rival STFX X-Women, ranked No. 6, in the second quarterfinal of the 2025 Bell AUS Women's Soccer Championship, presented by Protocase, on Thursday evening at Ness Timmons Field.

Trailing 1–0 entering the second half, the CAPERS tied the contest in the 76th minute when AUS second-team all-star Paige Allaby of Rothesay, N.B., headed the ball under the crossbar from in close. The goal came off a deft pass from Audrey Roy of Petit Rocher, N.B., who saved the ball from going out of play along the end line.

Shortly after the equalizer, the X-Women had a golden opportunity to regain the lead, but AUS first-team all-star keeper Ellie Lancaster of Fall River, N.S., soared to deflect a hard strike over the crossbar to preserve the 1–1 score.

In the 85th minute, off a throw-in from Leah Disipio of Ottawa, Olivia Albright, also of Ottawa, volleyed a rainbow shot into the far top corner behind X-Women keeper Sarah Bach of Calgary. The strike gave the CAPERS their first lead of the match.

Applying steady pressure, the CAPERS carried much of the territorial play early in the opening half but couldn't find the net despite forcing several turnovers.

The first quality scoring chance came off a STFX corner kick, with Lancaster making a key save on her goal line. Moments later, first-team all-star Grace Hannaford of Enfield, N.S., tested Bach, the first-year X-Women keeper, who came up with the stop.

Midway through the first half, on a counterattack, Ava Elgood of Almonte, Ont., sent in Aidan Miller of Chilliwack, B.C., but Lancaster made a sensational stop with her left leg to keep the match scoreless.

That chance seemed to spark the X-Women, who began to press offensively. After a strong run through the midfield, Makenna Bowser of Bible Hill, N.S., laced a left-footed strike that rang off the goalpost behind Bach.

A short time later, in the 40th minute, Elgood found AUS rookie of the year Avril Jamieson of Calgary, who eluded a charging Lancaster with a deft left-footed first touch before depositing the ball into the open net with her right foot to open the scoring.

Albright was named the Boston Pizza Player of the Match.

With the victory, the No. 3 CAPERS advance to the semifinal round, where they will face the second-seeded REDS on Friday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m.