Panthers come up short in 2-1 loss to UNB

(SAINT JOHN, NB)—Luke Rosettani (Ottawa, ON) scored twice to lead the UNB REDS to a 2-1 win over the UPEI Panthers, Sunday afternoon, at the Canada Games Stadium in Saint John. 

The REDS opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Rosettani fired a hard shot past Panthers' keeper Evan Couturier (Lower Coverdale, NB). 

He scored his second of game in the 55th minute, from the penalty spot. 

"I was just feeling confident about how I was playing and I knew I could bury it," said Rosettani, of his second goal. 

Late in the first half, a Panthers attacker was taken down inside the REDS box and UPEI was awarded a penalty. 

UNB keeper Louis-Charles Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, QC) made the save, but was ruled to have left the goal line ahead of the kick. 

On the ensuing re-kick, the Panthers were ruled to have encroached and the goal was waved off. 

The Panthers cut UNB's lead in half in the 64th minute when Fran Sanchez (Cornwall, PE) put the visitors on the board. His kick, from just inside the 20-yard line, was just out of the reach of Vaillancourt. 

UPEI pushed late, but the REDS held on for the victory. 

"We feel great. It's been a great atmosphere with the team, we're playing really well and we've been having a great time," said Rosettani. "We're happy with the six points this weekend." 

"We fought hard," said veteran Panthers midfielder Duncan Murray (Damascus, NB). "We played yesterday, and played most of the game a man down, so we were pretty gassed coming in to today. That hurt us near the end, I think it showed in some of our play." 

"Going down a goal early, we're happy with the way we fought back and I thought we were a little unlucky at times," said Murray. 

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

"I think we pulled it together and made it our home field, and I think we dominated here today," said Rosettani. 

With the win, UNB improves to 5-and-1 this season. The Panthers are now 2-2-1. 

The REDS now go on the road, to St. John's, where they'll face the Memorial Sea-Hawks on Saturday and Sunday. 

UPEI goes to Dalhousie on Friday. 

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: Kevin Barrett/for UNB Athletics