In a battle of unbeaten Atlantic University Sport men’s soccer clubs, the UPEI Panthers dropped a 4-1 decision to the Cape Breton Capers Sunday in Charlottetown.
The Panthers dropped to 3-1-3 on the year, while the Capers retained their hold on first place with a record of 6-0-1.
“It’s disappointing,” said fourth-year striker Jimmie Mayaleh. “We obviously wanted to try to go the whole year undefeated.
“But (the Capers are) a very good team. They’re a really good technical team. And we just weren’t on our game today. We actually had enough chances that we could’ve kept the game even.”
Playing through a constant downpour, at some times heavy, the Panthers came out flying, but couldn’t beat Capers’ keeper Andrew Murphy early.
Then in the 17th minute, the conference’s top offence went to work when Ian Greedy beat Tyler Shaw just inside the left post only moments after the first-year keeper had made a glorious stop off a deflection.
Striker Keishen Bean put the Capers up 2-0 in the 31st minute and a goal by Shayne Hollis in the 67th minute put Cape Breton up 3-0.
In the 81st minute, striker Andrew Hayes put the Panthers on the board, placing a shot just inside the left post after a beautiful pass from defender Colby O’Donnell sprung him for a breakaway.
Hayes was named UPEI’s player of the game.
Three minutes later, Capers’ forward Corson Roach pushed Cape Breton’s lead back to three, after battling through two defenders and unleashing a shot that evaded Shaw.
“They finished a high percentage of the goal chances they had and we didn’t,” said UPEI head coach Lewis Page. “The difference between the two teams was that they put theirs away, and we didn’t.
“We’re still in the hunt and are happy with the way things are going. We’re not going to let one loss radically change everything we’re doing.”
As for his club’s offence, Page said the team is continuing to create its share of chances but stressed that patience and composure will be key down the stretch.
Shots in the game were 17-12 for the Capers.
UPEI 0 UNB 0
Saturday at Charlottetown, Shaw and UNB’s Morgan Kenny had the clean sheets.
Shots were 10-7 in favour of UNB, which also had the edge in corners, 4-2.
O’Donnell was named UPEI’s player of the game.
The Panthers will return to action on Oct. 15 at UNB and Oct. 16 at Moncton.
Injured UPEI keeper Dave Feener is expected to return for those games.
