Clutch goals by Jared Murphy and Adam Lowther lifted the UPEI Panthers’ men’s soccer team to a 2-0 win over the visiting Acadia Axemen Sunday afternoon.
The win ensured a weekend split for the fourth-place club, after they dropped Saturday’s match 3-1 to Memorial University.
“I’m very pleased with the positive rebound we had today,’’ said assistant coach Bruce Norton following Sunday’s win.
Norton has taken over the coaching duties as head coach Lewis Page is serving as an assistant coach with the national women’s team at the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The win pushes UPEI’s record to 5-2-4, while Acadia remains winless at 0-8-3.
Despite the two club’s drastically different records, game play was fairly even in the first half.
But in the second half, the Panthers came out buzzing.
In the 61st minute, shortly after Charles Aondo was denied in close by Acadia keeper Eric Ross, Murphy roared in from the midfield and buried the ball into the net from the top of the crease to put UPEI up 1-0. Matt Dunlop picked up an assist.
“We took the first half a little slow, but picked it up in the second half,’’ Murphy said post-game. “I think the goal really lifted the team and things kind of went up from there.’’
Then in the 80th minute, captain Adam Lowther picked up his first goal of the season when he tucked home a scramble in the crease, putting the Panthers up 2-0.
“It was a huge monkey off my back,’’ said Lowther, who was named player of the game. “I’m not going to lie, I’ve been thinking about it. Leading the team, you expect to have results. To have that happen today, at home, was a great feeling.’’
Shots in the game were 9-4 in favour of UPEI. Striker Jimmie Mayaleh hit the crossbar twice.
Rookie keeper Trevor White recorded the clean sheet for the Panthers, much to the delight of his parents Paul and Alice White who had made the trip from Victoria, B.C., to watch him play.
With just two games left in the season, Lowther said the Panthers are aiming for a top-three finish.
The Panthers will hit the road for a rematch with Acadia on Friday, before closing out the season at home Sunday with a game against the Mount Allison Mounties at 3:15 p.m.
Department of Athletics