Samuel Akinsola’s late-game heroics secures crucial point for Panthers

By Thomas Becker

There's no better feeling than scoring a late goal that ties (or wins) a game and stuns the opponent. 

Just ask UPEI Panther Samuel Akinsola, who scored the game-tying goal in the 87th minute against the Cape Breton Capers that secured a big point in the standings. 

"When you score a late goal against a team like CBU, it's insane," Akinsola said. "It just felt good, especially in front of the home crowd." 

The rookie striker has made a habit out of scoring dramatic goals after entering the game as a substitute. It happened a week earlier when he curled a shot past the keeper in the first half of a 1-1 draw versus Saint Mary's. This time he lunged at a perfectly executed cross from Kasper Lasia and managed to get a shoe on the ball which skipped by Cape Breton (4-1-2) keeper Daniel Clarke.

"You have to have that goal scoring mindset," he said. "I'm all about getting that clutch winner. I try to get in the box, get in dangerous positions and try to make a difference for my team." 

After a frustrating 4-0 loss to Dalhousie on Friday, Panthers head coach Lewis Page was encouraged by today's 1-1 result.

"It's what their effort deserved," Page said. "They were rewarded for working hard and not giving up and pressing for the entire 90 minutes."

Just they like they did Friday night, the Panthers (2-3-2) surrendered an early goal when a harmless looking cross bounced around the box and eventually found its way to Kairo Coore, who fired a shot in the top right corner past goalkeeper Isaac Wolters. 

At that moment, they could have easily given up, but with 85 minutes left to play all they needed was one score. 

After allowing the go-ahead goal, the defence stepped up and held the Capers high-powered offence down for the remainder of the game. They did however have a chance to double their lead in the 50th minute when Cairo found Daniel Williams wide left, but Evan Couturier, who replaced the injured Wolters in the first half, met Williams at the ball and made the sliding stop. 

That save was big, as UPEI eventually found the equalizer on Akinsola's dramatic goal and set the stage for a playoff push that promises to be a close battle. 

"CBU is one of the top teams in our conference and to get a result against them and to do it from behind, gives us confidence that we can play with anyone," Page said. 

The Panthers look to grab three more points Oct. 16 when they take on the last-place Mount Allison Mounties.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan