No. 6 V-Reds Upset No. 3 Dal
UNB scores 3-2 in PKs to advance to AUS semis
(ANTIGONISH, NS) The sixth seeded UNB Varsity Reds upset the third seeded Dalhousie Tigers 3-2, in penalty kicks, in the quarter-finals at the Subway Atlantic University Sport women's soccer Championship, in Antigonish.
Clarisse Ramirez(Ottawa, ON) scored on UNB's final kick to push the Varsity Reds into the semi-finals.
UNB won the penalty kick round 5-4, after keeper Rebecca Duda(Halifax, NS) made a stop on the Tigers second shooter.
"I had an idea of where she was going, so I just trusted my gut and went with it," said Duda. "Once I hit the ground and realized that I'd saved it, it was the most amazing feeling."
"I'm so proud of the girls for scoring five goals on five shots too," she said.
The Varsity Reds opened the scoring early in the match.
Jelisa Joncas(Burlington, ON) struck from long range in just the second minute of play to give UNB an early 1-0 lead.
The Tigers tied it 1-1 before the half.
MJ Miller(Hammonds Plains, NS) put the V-Reds in front again, in the 66th minute, when she pounced on the rebound of her own penalty kick.
Dal tied it 2-2 in the 79th minute, setting the table for a scoreless overtime and the drama of penalty kicks.
"It feels good," said Varsity Reds head coach Jon Crossland, of the win. "I really liked our prep and approach to the game, and we stuck to our plan for the most part."
"It's only one win, but it validates the last six weeks of work for our group and their commitment and trust in what we were doing," said Crossland.
Ramirez was named the Subway Player of the Game.
The Varsity Reds advance to face the top-seeded Cape Breton Capers, on Friday, at 4:00pm.
UNB and CBU met only once during the regular season, a 3-0 Capers win, in Fredericton, on September 16th.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Bryan Kennedy/for St FX Athletics