REDS Drop Opener
(FREDERICTON, NB) The defending U SPORTS men's soccer champions scored a pair of second half goals to beat the UNB REDS 3-1 Friday night at UNB's BMO Centre.
The game was the Atlantic University Sport regular season opener for both sides.
Despite the loss, REDS' captain Olivier Menard (Ottawa, ON) recognized the positives.
"It's a good way to start the season, against strong opposition, that shows us the standard of the league, where we want to be," said Menard. "I'm super proud of all the boys with the hard work they put in and the effort until the last second, so you can't complain about that."
The home team opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Luke Rosettani (Ottawa, ON) converted a penalty kick.
REDS' newcomer Ehad Moustafa (Stratford, PE) drew the penalty by outracing a Capers defender to a ball in the box. The defender tripped Moustafa in an attempt to play the ball and the call was made.
The Capers drew even in the dying minutes of the first half when Jacob Spizzirri (Woodbridge, ON) fired a shot off the far post that just managed to cross the goal line before being corralled by REDS' keeper Mahmoud Moustafa (Stratford, PE).
The head official consulted with the assistant referee before declaring that CBU had scored.
In a high-tempo second half, the visitors went ahead when Elijah Le (Vaughan, ON) headed a corner kick into the UNB net in the 73rd minute.
Harvey Hughes (Southampton, ENG) added a goal in stoppage time to make the final score 3-1.
"There was a lot of boys with their first minutes in the AUS tonight so that's awesome," added Menard. "New group, new tactics, so, probably by the end of the season we'll be better than what we showed tonight, but we still showed a lot of spirit, a lot of character, and that's what it's all about early in the season.
Both teams will now enjoy a day off before Sunday match-ups.
The Capers will visit the UPEI Panthers for a 1:15pm start while the REDS will host Mount Allison. Game time is 3:15pm.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics