Reds win one, tie another against Mounties
On a perfect day for soccer the UNB Varsity Reds women’s soccer team used timely offense and strong defence to earn their first victory of the season, 1-0 over the Mount Allison Mounties at Chapman Field on Saturday.
“It’s good to win,” said Reds head coach Andy Cameron. “We needed the win just for a bit of confidence and the second half of the season is a little lighter of a schedule so it’s all positive and we’ll go into PEI tomorrow and look for results.”
Heading into Saturday’s game the Reds were 0-6 and had been outscored 16-2, making the game against the Mounties crucial to gaining momentum for the second half of the season.
After a back and forth first half that saw both teams trading scoring chances the Reds started out on the defensive in the second half with Mt. A controlling the play. Towards the midway point of the half the Reds went on the offensive and in the 65th minute first-year striker Robyn Potter got a shot past Mounties keeper Elissa McCarron to give UNB a 1-0 lead.
The Reds goal seemed to energize the Mounties who stayed on the offensive for the majority of time remaining; however UNB’s strong defensive play kept Mt. A from finding the net and earned the Reds their first win.
Although the defence was a focus in the second half, coach Cameron was quick to point out that it wasn’t only the defensive players who played well.
“I think you have to be careful to single out the back four, it’s the people in front of them that are helping out as well and I think we performed well as a unit today; and when we got the chance we finished,” said Cameron.
“I think we’ve been getting better day by day and I guess effort was the key today.”
Players of the game were the Mounties Kate Shipp and Robyn Potter for the Reds.
On the men’s side the eighth-ranked Reds looked to defeat the Mounties following a 1-1 draw in Sackville during the season’s opening weekend.
Both teams started out with a quick pace with neither team able to gain a significant advantage in the opening minutes. Just prior to the midway point of the half UNB’s Ken Morrison nearly scored on a free kick only to be denied by an amazing save by Mt. A’s keeper.
Moments later in the 21st minute Morrison wouldn’t be denied a second time, scoring a beautiful goal by curling a corner kick into the far side of the net to put the Reds up by one.
The second half started out with the Mounties evening the score in the 49th minute off a shot from fifth-year midfielder Iain MacLeod. Following MacLeod’s goal the teams traded chances with both keepers making some phenomenal saves to keep the game tied at a goal each.
UNB took control in the last ten minutes putting pressure on the Mounties defence and generating a number of scoring chances. The Reds nearly scored on a scramble in front of the net in extra time, however it was not to be and, just as during the opening