Weekly Update
SEPTEMBER 29TH
UNB AT U DE M
UNB travelled to Moncton for a mid-week game under the lights of the new stadium. It was an electric atmosphere playing in the world class venue and in front of a large boisterous crowd. As funny as it may sound, it took some time for the Reds to adjust to the surface (natural grass) as we train and play all of our games, except two, on turf. Moncton is a quick and talented group who were able to create some dangerous links through their midfield. At the twenty minute mark, UNB’s Bradley Cowperthwaite (Fredericton, NB) placed a perfect through pass onto Galen Smith (Fredericton, NB), who calmly controlled off of his chest and volleyed over the charging Moncton keeper. For the rest of the first half, U de M continued to press the Reds backline but could not score.
During half-time UNB made some minor adjustments that saw big improvements in their play for the second frame. The Reds looked most dangerous off of counter-attacks with the best chance coming when Galen Smith cut a ball back to penalty spot where a wide open David Andreychuk (Vancouver, BC) just missed. With fifteen minutes to play, Moncton swung a cross into the box where UNB keeper Aaron McMurray (London, ON) was bumped off of the ball. In the resulting scramble it was decided by the official that MacMurray was the one to be punished and a penalty was awarded to Moncton. MacMurray almost got enough of the penalty kick but the tying goal found mesh. The final fifteen minutes was exciting wide-open soccer as both teams went for the win. UNB had the best chance when Ryan Lauzon's (Ottawa, ON) volley from the top of the box beat the keeper only to ring off of the cross-bar.
FINAL SCORE: UNB – 1, MONCTON – 1
UNB PLAYER OF THE GAME: GALEN SMITH
UNB IRVING HARD HAT WINNERS: JASON BESSEY & ROD RAMSDEN
OCTOBER 1st
MEMORIAL AT UNB
The Varsity Reds welcomed the Sea-Hawks to Chapman Field for a battle between two teams that entered the week-end mid-table. UNB immediately established dominance on the wings through Jean-Claude Campeau (Winnipeg, MB) and Shea Nordheim (Winnipeg, MB). It was Campeau who beat his man and drilled a perfect cross into and charging Galen Smith to open the scoring at just the five minute mark. The V-Reds played well defensively throughout the match. Memorial’s Delong entered the week-end as the Conference’s leading scorer but on this day the UNB defence (Ramsden, Chehab el din, Cowperthwaite, Green) would not give him a sniff of their goal. At the thirty-fifth minute UNB scored again when Shea Nordheim ran onto a flick from Galen Smith and buried his shot past Luke Olmstead in the Memorial goal. There would be no more scoring on the day despite some great chances for Smith, Bessey, and Allen.
FINAL SCORE: UNB – 2, MEMORIAL – 0
UNB PLAYER OF THE GAME: SHEA NORDHEIM
UNB IRVING HARD HAT WINNERS: JC CAMPEAU & BRAD COWPERTHWAITE
OCTOBER 2
CAPE BRETON AT UNB
In what was another battle between teams in similar positions, UNB took to the field against the defending AUS Champions from Cape Breton. The Capers seemed to be quicker and sharper on this day and controlled the majority of play for the first half. Despite this edge territorial, it was UNB that had the best chances from Smith, Allen, and Bessey. Cape Breton started the second half in a completely different gear from the V-Reds. Aaron MacMurray was called upon to make two spectacular saves in the first ten minutes of the second frame. It really was only a matter of time before Cape Breton was going to be awarded for their efforts. The goal came from twenty-two yards out and was deflected off of a UNB defender past a helpless MacMurray. This goal seemed to take the life out of the UNB legs. Cape Breton continued to press and were given a penalty with ten minutes to play. MacMurray came up huge again pushing the well struck ball wide. Unfortunately only seconds later, lax defensive play allowed for an easy header at the back post to put the Capers up by two. Some heated play in the dying minutes will be sure to make the return game an interesting one in two weeks.
FINAL SCORE: UNB – 0, CAPE BRETON – 2
UNB PLAYER OF THE GAME: AARON MacMURRAY
UNB IRVING HARD HAT WINNERS: ROD RAMSDEN, YASSIN CHEHAB EL DIN
COACH’S COMMENTS:
It really was a mixed bag for us this past week. The team continues to show improvement in some of the areas that we have identified. The Cape Breton game showed that we still have work to do. Three games in five days seemed to have affected our energy levels.
TEAM NEWS
It was nice to see a number of alumni that were in town for the UNB Home-Coming events. The Alumni Game was its usual spirited affair. Despite the short field, large goals, and lack of defence there was a shortage of goals (due in the most part to the play of Adam Pischiutta). Alumni involved in the week-end’s activities included: Albert El-Khoury, Pierre El-Khoury, Dave Rouse, Peter Carpenter, Steve Harris, Dave Brown, Miles Pinsent, Paul Noble, Ben LeBlanc, Chris Gill, Adam Pischiutta, Jon Crossland, Joe Crossland, Eric Karosan, Ashley Crook, Karel Pricket, Ken Morrison, and Graham Ashworth.
Check out the UNB Varsity Reds new website (www.vreds.ca) and sign up for the instant team updates through twitter and text messaging.
UPCOMING
The team takes a break for Thanksgiving. Our next games are October 16th in Cape Breton and October 17th at MTA.