(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Varsity Reds scored their first win of the season, blanking the visiting UPEI Panthers 2-0.
Lauren Cubbon(Saskatoon, SK) scored both goals for UNB, and Rebecca Duda(Halifax, NS) recorded the shut-out.
"We needed to win that one today," said Varsity Reds head coach Jon Crossland. "Just to build the confidence in this group."
Cubbon had a handful of scoring chances in the first half, including two inside the 18-yard box. Both were handled by Panthers' keeper Amanda Stayner(Port Coquitlam, BC).
The fourth year striker was finally able to beat Stayner early in the second half.
In the 57th minute, Cubbon took a beautiful crossing pass from first year VRed Danika Lefebvre(Fredericton, NB) and tapped it into the PEI net.
"She sent a beautiful ball in," said Cubbon, of Lefebvre. "One time, across the body to the far corner, I didn't have to do much, she did great work there."
The goal seemed to relax the Varsity Reds, who increased their pressure on the Panthers.
When Stayner punched out a shot in the 73rd minute, Cubbon called teammates off the rebound and fired it right back at the UPEI net… and in.
Cubbon was glad to help the team earn the win.
"I think it calms some nerves," said Cubbon. "We have a young team this year I think it'll really settle things down and we can do what we do best now."
"She was dangerous the whole game, which is fantastic, it's what we need from her," said Crossland of Cubbon.
Not pleased with the outcome, UPEI head coach Graeme McDonald said he saw decent play in the early going.
"I think, overall, we deserved a point out of that," said McDonald. "At the end of the day, we had a few chances and we didn't take advantage of them."
After dropping a 4-1 decision to Memorial on Saturday, Coach Crossland was smiling on Sunday.
"We played three really good halves of soccer this weekend, and one not great one," said Crossland. "We're trending in the right direction."
Varsity Reds keeper Rebecca Duda believes the win has come at just the right time.
"It's a huge step in the right direction," said Duda. "We just needed to prove to ourselves that we can get the three points, we can have a clean sheet, we can score multiple goals in a game and we can get a lead and we can hold it."
The Varsity Reds are now off until next Sunday, when they host the Acadia Axewomen, at 1:00PM, at BMO Centre.
The Panthers welcome the Dal Tigers to UPEI, on Saturday, in a 1:00PM kick-off