The UPEI men’s soccer Panthers bounced back from a tough Friday night loss against Saint Mary’s with a convincing 3-0 win Saturday against the UNB Varsity Reds.
Coach Lewis Page was very pleased with his squad’s performance.
“The guys were up against it after (Friday’s) game and I think they showed their character and spirit by coming back to give a very strong result today,” he said Saturday. “We moved the ball quicker and got that pressure on the ball we didn’t have last night as well as doing all the other little things we needed to do. So a credit to our squad today, they’ve done well.”
Page reunited his old 2009 Canada Games back line of Dillon Wight, Cole MacMillan, Danny Hill and Kieran Dutton and it paid off in spades as the Reds were unable to mount any sustained attack and were limited to only two scoring chances.
UPEI opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when striker Harminder Singh connected on a header for his first UPEI goal from winger Brett Hogan. Ten minutes later the Panthers added to their lead when Jimmie Mayaleh stripped the last Reds defender of the ball and easily deeked the on-rushing keeper to calmly place the ball in the back of the open goal. They held a 2-0 lead at the half.
It wasn’t until the 65th minute before the Panther’s got their third goal on an outstanding individual effort by Hogan. He took a nice pass from Jared Murphy, ran the baseline, took his shot, gathered the rebound and squeezed it past the sprawled keeper.
Trevor White picked up the shutout for the Panthers in goal. UPEI outshot UNB 14-11 and outchanced them 6-2.
This weekend the Panthers are at home for two matches, hosting Moncton Friday and St. F.X. Saturday. Both games are set for 6:15 p.m.
