Panthers Eliminated in Semi's
Tired legs and key injuries finally caught up to the young upstart UPEI Men’s Soccer Team Friday evening in Wolfville as they went down to defeat to No. 1 seed Cape Breton Capers by a score of 4-0.
Tired legs and key injuries finally caught up to the young upstart UPEI Men's Soccer Team Friday evening in Wolfville as they went down to defeat to No. 1 seed Cape Breton Capers by a score of 4-0.
Right from the outset the Capers attacked with pace and numbers forcing Panther keeper Brett Strba to come up with some exceptional saves. Finally in the 35th minute Caper Sandro Rajkovic opened the scoring from a scramble off a corner kick. Then with a minute remaining in the first half Stuart Heath scored on what would be the first of his two goals on the night on a nice finish off a cross from the left flank. The half ended 2-0 for Cape Breton.
In the second half the Panthers faired no better with the Capers scoring in the 58th (Heath) and 76th (Nico Gibbons). The Panthers were desperate to wipe out the clean sheet but without results.
Keeper Scott Shewfelt of the Capers pick up the clean sheet. Late in the game with no doubt about the outcome, it gave coach a good chance to bring on is seniors and a few rookies for the experience of playing in the AUS finals.
The Panthers were outchanced 9-2 and outshot 16-4.
"First of all our injuries were a big factor for us in the outcome of the game. Missing players like Harminder Singh and Kieran Moore was a real big blow for us. They are hard guys to replace. " said coach Page. "You have to give full credit to Cape Breton they are a great team, I'm so proud of our guys. They kept playing right to the end and they never gave up and that's what Panther Pride is all about"
Cape Breton will now advance to the final game on Sunday afternoon and earn a spot in York for the CIS final next weekend.