Capers defeat Panthers 5-2 in AUS women’s soccer action

SYDNEY, NS—The Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (6-1-0) scored a decisive 5-2 victory over the visiting UPEI Panthers (2-4-2) in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women's soccer action Friday evening on home turf at Ness Timmons Field. 

Early in the first half, the Capers came out quickly; keyed by the speed of freshman striker Leah Disipio (Ottawa, ON), the home side garnered a corner kick in the first four minutes. 

The first threat from the visitors was engineered by Sarah Eden (Ottawa, ON) who delivered a through ball to Olivia Cummings (Quispamsis, NB), but CBU's freshman keeper Ellie Lancaster (Fall River, NS) darted off her line and cleared the area. 

Amy-Anne Ndiaye (Ile-Bizard, QC) opened the scoring for the Capers in the 11th minute, when her volley to teammate Alliyah Rowe (Kitchener, ON) eluded Panther keeper Claudia Mazzei (Milton, ON) and made its way over the goal line to make it 1-0.  

In the 16th minute, Rowe teamed up with first-year forward Lauren Rowe (Conception Bay, NL), but they couldn't double the advantage. 

The Capers doubled their edge in the 19th minute when Disipio deposited a cross from Grace Hannaford (Enfield, NS) behind Mazzei. 

In the 30th minute, Makenna Bowser (Bible Hill, NS) tried to give CBU a three-goal lead but her left-footed strike – from just outside the box – sailed over the crossbar and outstretched hand of Mazzei.  

The Capers continued to press to extend their advantage – garnering three corner kicks and a free kick in the final 10 minutes – but they could not score.  

CBU led 2-0 at halftime.  

The Capers started strongly in the second half, collecting a couple of early free kicks, before Disipio made a run and tested Mazzei, who made a sensational diving stop. 

A short time later, Alliyah Rowe nudged a nifty pass to Hannaford, who poked a shot that trickled just wide of the left post.  

In the 54th minute, from more than 20 yards away, Alliyah Rowe pivoted and uncoiled a sizzling strike that banged off the crossbar. 

On a feed from Hannaford, in the 59th minute, first-year Caper Liberty Yuke (Lower Sackville, NS) tallied her first AUS marker to make it 3-0. 

In the same minute, Alliyah Rowe collected her 12th goal of the season. She laced a lunging volley into the top corner to extend the CBU edge to 4-0. 

In the following minutes, the Panthers tried to rally, but their best scoring chance – off the foot of Madison Fisher (Stratford, PE) – was turned aside by Caper keeper Chloe Parsons (Balls Creek, NS), who subbed in for Lancaster. 

In the 76th minute, Wendy Dadzie (Greater Accra) retrieved the ball between two CBU defenders before lofting a shot over Parsons to break the shutout. 

Eden, in stoppage time, made it 5-2 when her penalty kick deflected home off the hand of a diving Parsons. 

The Panthers had a pair of late corner kicks but they came up empty. 

Hannaford was the Chartwells player of the match for the Capers. The player of the match for UPEI was Grace Veinotte (Port Williams, NS).  

The Capers will be back in action on Saturday, when the welcome the Mount Allison Mounties visit Ness Timmons Field, while the Panthers will visit Antigonish to face the STFX X-Women. Kick-off for both matches is 5 p.m. ADT.

RECAP BY: Corey LeBlanc, CBU Sports Information / PHOTOS BY: Vaughan Merchant