As It Happened: Saint Mary's Huskies (W) v. Dalhousie Tigers (W) ---Preseason--- 4pm September 6th, Husky Stadium

Welcome along again to what has already happened for me, but is currently happening for you and will hopefully work out grammatically. All the past, present, and future tense gets a bit confusing depending on your point of view.

Husky Stadium may be falling apart (the construction tape and hastily scrawled "Off Limits" sign actually enhance its image) but the pigeons are still here, uncaring as ever while they drop their payloads on unsuspecting fans and minute-by-minute writers. I'm currently hiding under the press box.

Dal coach Jack Hutchison was pretty livid after his team came out very limp against SMU on Friday. He's made a few changes based on what I can gather fromt he warm-up: Katelyn Grechuk (or, at least, someone wearing the number 22) is starting. Emma Landry--apparently of Ottawa--gets a deserved second look as well. The mysterious #8 is also starting. Reika Santilli, who probably has a concussion, is not starting.

Teams:

In no particular order: SMU: Holland, Scott, Peters, Jen Caldwell, Turner-Chaisson, Nizio, Justine Caldwell. No Rostaert tonight, at leats to start.

Dal: Landry, Colleen MacDonald, Kate MacDonald, Huck, #8, Henry, #4, Cox, Richard, Armstrong.

1min: Kick-off. Nothing else.

3min: Special thanks to SMU for using a clock tonight. The Tigers are so grateful that they almost let SMU score. Rostaert (whoops, she is starting) with half a chance. No shot, though.

4min: Kate MacDonald breaks in and sizes up a shot, but then decides to break past Jem Caldwell, who wins the ball.

7min: Dal will need to keep the ball on the deck to break down SMU. So far, it doesn't look too bad.

8min: Kate MacDonald turns down my tactical advice and controls a long ball from #4. She's a hair offside, though.

10min: Dal will make an early change, withdrawing #4 for Teresa Morrison, a former St. FX captain before she transferred to Dal for dentistry.

11min: Landry sends a nice through pass to Kate MacDonald wide left. She drops it back to Richard, who misfires her cross straight out of play.

14min: GOAL! (Morrison 14') Corner to Dal after some solid work from Landry. As Cox comes off for Joanna Boldgett the ball breaks to Morrison who streaks in down the right and finishes cooly into the far corner. 1-0 to Dal.

18min: Boldgett works a chance downt he right but Kate MacDonald can't shape to finish.

19min: SMU get a chance as Rostaert cuts into the area on the byline. Huck slides in and puts it behind perfectly.

20min: The corner is claimed by Armstrong. The goal is bad news for SMU--they didn't come close to scoring on Friday and Dal look a changed team. Now Dal attack off a free kick but Landry strays offside.

23min: Cutting pass from Morrison finds MacDonald, but Ashley Donald clears confidently for SMU.

25min: Landry chases a ball into the box and keeper Justine Caldwell clears it off of Landry. It took a dangerous bounce for a moment but SMU bail their stranded keeper out.

26min: Dal are bringing off Richard, who had been playing left back for #7.

31min: Game's settled a bit. Whether SMU have adapted or Dal plateaued I'm not sure. Dal are still pressuring but not getting much on goal. Landry off for Kyla Gunderson, possible. Boldgett shifts wide to make space.

39min: It's becoming much more of a midfield battle. It's getting warmer and I'm getting sleepier. Dal sub: #8 off for #4, as two mystery players change places.

41min: The ha;f is petering out now. The goal seemed to kill of momentum rather than spark it.

42min: SMU change keepers (which they did twice on Friday). Caldwell comes off for Bellefontaine, I think.

44min: Henry, under pressure, concedes a throw rather cheaply, I'm afraid. SMU get it in the box but still can't work a shot.

45+1min: Half-time called, and this one whimpered out. Maybe some fatigue involved, with many of these players having played Friday as well.

Dal haven't actually beaten SMU in about six goes, not since the 2007 playoffs, but SMU hardly look a theat over the 135 combined minutes so far that I've seen them. Two shots on Friday and none so far today won't have the Dal keepers worrying. And SMU will need to be far better for Cape Breton, who come here on the weekend to play both Dal and SMU. Dal look crisp and while CBU will test them, the Capers have lost two key veterans from last year. SMY may well be out of their league against CBU. They're too slow to react and not technically gifted enough. Dal will be in tough against the champions of 2007 and 2008, but it's doable for them. Not so much for Saint Mary's.

As I though, Rebecca Holm has entered the goal for Dal--she had been warming up all through half-time. Richard is back in at left back. Landry and Cox also draw back in. #4 and Boldgett make way. SMU bring out #6 and Maddie Clarke, but I didn't catch who they brought on.

48min: Dal start the first attack, but Cox can't catch it down the right.

51min: GOAL! (Huck 51') Cox dummies in downt he right and crosses into the box. It bounces away, but Bellefontaine chases out of the goal in pursuit. Cox beats her to it and drives a low cross straight to Jeanette Huck, who sidefoots into the gaping goal. 2-0 Dal. SMU's back four were missing in action there. Too much ball watching, and Bellefontaine, well, "bad read" is about all you can say.

53min: GOAL! (Landry 53') And Landry scores from just inside the top left corner of the box, lobbing one over Bellefontaine, who looked only semi-interested in saving it. Bellefontaine is now out, having been replaced by Alicia Wilson. Emily Cox, meanwhile, is subbed off for Dal's #4.

56min: Game over for SMU, as Dal have figured their defense out. SMU have a player down with cramp now--it's #18 who everyone keeps calling "Cassia." Wish I had a roster. Anyway, it looks like cramp. Hutchison makes another change as Henry and Richard are withdrawn for Katelyn Grechuk and #7.

58min: SMU aren't even trying anymore. Dal are showing very clearly that I was right at half-time about being able to take on Cape Breton. They look superb.

60min: Huck breaks down the right and drvies a ball in. It's deflected inches wide by Kate MacDonald. Wilson wouldn't have had a chance had it been on target.

61min: GOAL! (MacDonald 61') Apparently, it went out off a defender because Dal win a corner. The initial corner is cleared out wide but Kate MacDonald turns and rainbows a looping effort towards goal. Wilson looks to have caught it and everybody turns back but the referee points for a goal and Dal go 4-0 up. I think he's right, too--Wilson fumbled it slightly and her hand slipped over the line. Dal now exchange Kate MacDonald for Joanna Boldgett. SMY have also made a change, but I missed it.

63min: This game has reached a poitn where sportswriters can start employing clichés such as "ugly," "dominant," "controlling," and the more utiliatarian "very, very good." Or, in SMU's case, "very, very bad." Gunderson off for Landry.

65min: Boldgett cuts inside and smashes her cross of of Stephanie Holland's arm while it was in the box. Perhaps out fo mercy the referee decides not to award a penalty.

69min: There's a new keeper in for Holm. It might be Hanna Bebb, but without a roster, I can't confirm it. This season's rosters should be out late this week.

71min: Colleen MacDonald comes off, along with Lye and #4. Landry comes on, as do henry and Cox.

75min: Cox makes a beautiful move downt he left to win a corner, which Dal waste.

76min: SMY awake Bebb from a deep slumber as she's forced to collect a drifting header that was really nowhere near goal.

77min: SMU get a free kick 30 yards out. Donald drifts SMU's first shot towards goal, which Bebb snags and holds.

78min: Richard and Boldgett link up well until the assistant calls Richard offside when she wasn't. Cox off for Kate MacDonald.

81min: Dal free kick 30 yards out, now, after Morrison is hacked down. Huck hits the wall.

82min: Corner to Dal as Turner-Chiasson come off for SMU's #8. The corner is cleared too easily for my liking. Rostaert nearly beats Grechuk on the counter, but she loses the ball.

83min: Landry is replaced by Gunderson for Dal.

86min: This half is puttering out, too, which is probably better for SMU.

87min: #4 does well in the box to win a corner for Dal.

90min: The ref graciously refrains from adding extra time and blows right on 90 minutes. SMU might want to rethink their aims this season after that one. Ouch. Final score is 4-0 to Dalhousie.

That's all for me tonight. Dal showed their class today. They'll need to play more like this and less liek they did on Friday in order to beat a very tough Cape Breton side on Saturday. See you there.