V-Reds Soccer Teams Get by Aigles Bleus
October 19, 2009
The V-Reds improve to 4-2-3 for 15 points - six back of UPEI, Dalhousie and Cape Breton. Those teams are in a three-way tie for first place in the AUS men's soccer conference.
Jean-Claude Campeau had been out all season after having his Achilles completely severed in an off-season operation. Russell Carson was back in the lineup as well after being injured in the season opener.
"Russell and JC saw some limited action tonight," UNB head coach Miles Pinsent said.
UdeM opened the game with multiple early chances, including a header by Roderick Ramsden that just went wide.
The V-Reds quickly improved their play, however. They opened the scoring early as Will Allen had the ball bounce to his foot and he drove it into the yawning net past Moncton keeper Arnaud St-Jacques-Gagnon nine minutes in.
They kept Moncton on their heels scoring minutes later. Galen Smith broke past the Moncton defence as defender Simon Lesage misplayed the ball. Smith was all alone against Gagnon, making no mistake to put UNB up 2-0.
In the second half UNB came out stronger as they kept UdeM from managing any threatening attacks.
UNB kept the pressure throughout the half, finding the back of the net again in the 74th minute. Benjamin Law scored after a shot by Ken Morrison was dropped by the keeper, leaving Law only to tap it home.
Pinsent was pleased to see his team finding their offence as each game has more meaning as the end of the season approaches.
"We're starting to find our offence at the right time of the year and starting to get the players back when we need them," said Pinsent. "We're hoping it will be an exciting remainder of the regular season for the team and we'll move up the standings a few positions."
Pinsent knows every point counts at this stage in the season, but isn't too worried about the standings.
"When you look at the standings everything is so tight and all the teams are looking for maximum points," he said. "Looking at the standings this time of year you can drive yourself foolish trying to figure out what it's going to mean three weeks from now.
"You have to take care of things on your end and the standings will be what they are at the end of the season."
The UNB women were also victorious in their game against UdeM, 2-1.
The University of New Brunswick men's soccer team got multiple players back in the lineup Saturday night and their presence helped the V-Reds beat the Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleus 3-0 at Chapman Field.
First year player Robyn Potter found the back of the net in the 76 minute to break the scoreless tie.
Moncton responded with a goal from Gabrielle Babineau in the 80th minute.
The V-Reds responded, though, as Kara Johnston buried the winning goal in the 89th minute. They held on for only their second win of the season.
Coach Andy Cameron was pleased with the result as he noticed fine details of UNB's play have continued to improve.
"We had a tough first half of the season," Cameron said. "We've been improving every week and two goals is a good result and shows our offence is looking better."
UNB sits at the bottom of the standings, so Cameron was concerned his players may not come to play as hard.
"It was a worry that would happen," he said. "The team has seen the improvement week to week. We've had a positive approach in training and the ladies keep pushing themselves for the points.
"The league is extremely tight top to bottom and we've competed with every team we've played. We were just unfortunate to not get points in the first half."