(FREDERICTON, N.B.) The CIS No. 3-ranked UNB Varsity Reds men's soccer team came back from a sloppy start to the second half to tie the UPEI Panthers 2-2 tonight and remain undefeated in regular season action.
It was almost a different story, though, after UPEI poured on the pressure in the early minutes of the second half.
The game started quickly with the first goal coming from UNB's Marcus Lees at the 19th minute with an assist from Oliver Jones.
The rest of the first half would be scoreless, but within the first ten or so minutes of the second, UPEI would fire two goals in quick succession. Their first came from Dylan MacKenzie around minute 52. Just over four minutes later, Jared Murphy scored UPEI's second goal of the game.
The next twenty minutes had the local crowd, who were huddled under blankets against a particularly chilly fall evening, on the edge of their seats. At the 76th minute, UNB tied it up. Oliver Jones had the goal this time, with the assist from Marcus Lees.
Jones and Lees each have three goals this season, tying them with Cape Breton's Justin Maheu for the conference lead.
UNB head coach Miles Pinsent says he expected a good match out on the field today.
"UPEI showed up well-organised and ready to work hard and do what they felt they needed to do to get the result today, and they did that," he said. "I thought we were sloppy with some uncharacteristic turnovers and defensive lapses, and just not really in sync and playing with each other like we're capable of."
That's something, he says, the Varsity Reds can't expect to get away with.
"There's a lot of good opposition in this league, and if we give them the chance, they'll get results against us."
The Varsity Reds will travel to StFX to play next on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:15 p.m. The UPEI Panthers play next in Moncton Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3:15 p.m.
Source: UNB Sports Information