The UPEI Men’s Soccer Panthers rebounded from Saturday’s loss to Cape Breton with a 1-0 victory over the UNB Reds Sunday afternoon at the UPEI turf. It was a complete turnaround over the Panther’s earlier loss to UNB in Fredericton three weeks ago.
Although the score was tight with only the one goal, UPEI showed tough on the ball and were able to attack the Reds flanks relentlessly all afternoon. It was ironic that the Panther goal was to come from a drive that was created by midfielder Peter Connaughton straight up the middle in the 35th minute as he started from centre of the field and dribbled to just outside the penalty area, where he dumped the ball in behind the UNB back line to striker Jimmie Mayaleh who headed it home for his fifth goal of the season.
The stingy Panther defense stymied any UNB attack in the first half who were unable to have any scoring chances on Panther keeper Timma Kalinowski. “ The guys played a lot harder than they did yesterday, they did the dirty work again” said Kalinowski. “It was good turnaround in less than 24 hours and everyone did what they had to do to win the game, I didn’t have too many saves to make.”
The Panthers outshot UNB 14-7 and had the definite edge in scoring chances 6-2. UPEI outfouled the Reds 13-8 and and also had the edge in corner kicks, 12-8.
“I think it showed the character of our team as we bounced back from yesterday” said coach Lewis Page. “It was a great defensive game with very few goal chances for them. That’s the kind of character we’ve got to show the rest of the season.”
The win brings the Panthers back up to being tied with Cape Breton for second places with a game in hand. UPEI will now take the Thanksgiving week off with their next games being in St. John’s against Memorial the weekend of the 16th and 17th of October.
Department of Athletics