Olivia Cummings late goal secures valuable point for Panthers

(SAINT JOHN, NB)—The UPEI Panthers scored in added time to salvage a 1-1 draw with the UNB REDS, Sunday afternoon, at the Canada Games Stadium, in Saint John. 

Olivia Cummings (Quispamsis, NB) scored off a corner after the 90th minute. 

"There'd been a past few like that, that I'd missed, off the back post on a corner, so I just tried to get as much surface area on it as possible," said Cummings. 

Cummings' goal came about 13 minutes after the REDS had broken a scoreless draw. 

In the 77th minute, UNB's Mackenzie Walsh (Middle Sackville, NS) displayed talent and patience as she worked down the right wing, slipped a defender and fired a shot to the far corner that eluded Panthers' keeper Ali Muise (Charlottetown, PE). 

"I had Jon (Crossland) in the back of my head telling me to take players on, so I knew after I missed a first one that I had to take it in," said Walsh. The goal was the first of her Atlantic University Sport career. "It's super exciting, but I'm not satisfied with the game, so it doesn't feel like it's all there, but it's coming." 

In a driving and relentless Port City rain, the REDS and Panthers got off to a slow start, but both came to life late in the first half. 

In the final minute of the opening half, UNB's Jesse Bellamy (St. Catharines, ON) put a hard shot on the UPEI net, but it was high and just over the crossbar. 

In the opening minutes of the second half, the REDS put all kinds of pressure on the Panthers defence, with Heidi Lauwerijssen (Irishtown, PE) and Madison Goertz (Saskatoon, SK) pushing inside the 18-yard box. Both were turned away. 

With about 20 minutes to play, Bellamy fed a pass into the box for second half substitution Jillian Larose (Ottawa, ON), left undefended in front of Muise (Charlottetown, PE), but the first year RED couldn't finish. 

Walsh's goal looked like it might stand as UNB's winner until Cummings' late heroics. 

"I feel like we got over-excited and were content with the one and then we let the game slip," said Walsh. "It feels like a defeat." 

The game was the first of four the REDS will play in Saint John, with their home turf field unavailable. 

With the draw, the REDS are now 1-3-2 this season. 

UPEI is 1-2-2. 

The REDS hit the road next weekend, facing the Memorial Sea-Hawks, Saturday and Sunday, in St. John's. 

The Panthers travel to Dalhousie on Friday. 

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: Kevin Barrett/for UNB Athletics