PANTHER SWEEP
Women’s team wins its first game while the men walk away with a 3-0 victory
Panthers women defeat Mounties 1-0, men win 3-0.
Sarah MacVarish lifted a huge weight off the shoulders of the UPEI Panthers women’s soccer team Thursday night.
The forward’s unassisted goal in the 75th minute gave the Panthers a 1-0 victory over the Mount Allison Mounties in Atlantic University Sport action.
The Panthers had a rough opening weekend, getting scored on early and losing both its first two games.
“In actuality, we started playing even better,’’ UPEI head coach Graeme McDonald said when asked what MacVarish’s goal meant to the team.
“I think the girls were just so tense looking for that first goal and that plays a factor sometimes in how you play. Once you get that first goal things can settle down a bit better.’’
UPEI surged in the second half of the game, firing 16 shots towards Mount Allison’s goal. UPEI keeper Amanda Stanyer saved the only shot she faced while Mounties keeper Claire West made 10 saves on 11 shots.
UPEI also had the edge in corner kicks at 5-3.
McDonald said a big key to the game was not giving up another early goal.
“I thought my back line was outstanding today. They kept us in it the first half. We changed a few things in terms of personnel back there.’’
The women’s Panthers are back in action on Saturday when the host Acadia. Game time at UPEI is 3 p.m.
MEN UPEI 3, MOUNT ALLISON 0
The UPEI Panthers walked away with a 3-0 victory Thursday night in Sackville to improve their record 2-1.
It took until the 29th minute before the Panthers were able to break through when striker Neil Harte caught the Mountie keeper off his line. A 20-yard chip in the open goal got Harte his second goal of the young season.
Mount Allison played an extremely high line and were successful in trapping the Panther runners on far too many occasions. The half ended 1-0.
In the second half, the Panthers came out quick and, two minutes in, Harte headed a ball towards midfielder Sam Smiley that deflected off a Mountie defender onto the foot of Smiley who made no mistake. He picked up what was to be his second of the night and fourth of the season.
The third goal came in stoppage time on a wide free kick taken by midfielder Nacho Sanchez. It was a low screamer that Smiley just deflected between the legs of Mountie keeper Michael Cormier.
UPEI keeper Brett Strba picked up his second consecutive clean sheet with the victory.
“It was great to get two goals again tonight,” said Smiley. “However, I don’t think we played our greatest game tonight especially in the second half. Three points are three points and we’ll take them for sure.”
The stats had the Panthers well out in front as the Mounties could not mount any kind of sustained attack throughout the game.
The Panthers had 19 shots toward goal with nine on target while the Mounties could only muster six shots towards goal and two on target. The Panthers held a distinct advantage in chances 10-1. Fouls were dead even at 10 apiece.
The Panthers edged the Mounties in corner kicks, 4-2. A disturbing stat if you’re a Panthers fan were the offsides, where UPEI had 20 calls to one for Mt. A.
The Panthers now have a day to prepare for the Acadia Axemen Saturday at 5:15 p.m. at the Panther turf.