Reds down Panthers 2-1

(FREDERICTON, NB)—Luke Rosettani (Kanata, ON) scored twice to lead the UNB REDS to a 2-1 win over the visiting UPEI Panthers in Atlantic University Sport men's soccer action on Wednesday night at UNB's BMO Centre. 

"That's huge for us," said Rosettani, named Tim Horton's Player of the Game. "Our main goal was to start this weekend off right with the first three points of nine, hopefully, and go from there." 

Wednesday's game was originally scheduled for this past Sunday, but was postponed due to complications following Post Tropical Storm Lee's visit to the region. 

The home team opened the scoring in the 35th minute. 

After UNB had already had a goal called back on an offside call, Rosettani pounced on a rebound off the wall following a free kick and fired a shot past Panthers keeper Evan Couturier (Lower Coverdale, NB). 

Rosettani's second of the game, a nice strike, came in the 68th minute. 

He stepped around one defender before driving a long, low shot that alluded Couturier. 

"I was feeling really confident in the moment," he said. "It was almost like I blacked out and your body takes over. I work on those ones all the time." 

The Panthers made it interesting when second half sub Sal Farag (Charlottetown, PE) headed home a goal in added time, but that was as close as the visitors would get. 

Panther captain Max VanWiechen (Montague, PE) was disappointed with the loss, but not UPEI's effort. 

"I thought it was fairly even throughout, but I think they worked a little harder than us and converted their chances," he said. "In the end, we were only able to get one and they got two, so that's how it goes." 

With the win, the REDS vault to second in the AUS standings with a 3-1-1 record. UPEI is eighth, with a 1-2-2 record 

The REDS next see action on Saturday when they host Moncton in a scheduled 3:15pm start. 

The Panthers are home Friday to Memorial, a scheduled 7:15pm start, before hosting the REDS Sunday. That game is scheduled for a 3:15pm kick-off. 

"UPEI is notoriously good at home," said Rosettani. "When we go there it's going to be a completely different game."

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell, UNB Athletics / PHOTOS BY: Fran Harris, for UNB Athletics