X-Men win clash of undefeated teams with 1-0 victory over Reds
The STFX X-Men rode an early first half goal to a 1-0 win over the UNB REDS, on Sunday.
FREDERICTON, NB - The STFX X-Men rode an early first half goal to a 1-0 win over the UNB REDS, on Sunday.
The match-up of the nation's 7th and 9th ranked teams was played at Fredericton's Willie O'Ree Place Complex.
The visitors struck for only goal of the game in just the sixth minute of play.
Kyle Cordeiro (Oakville, ON) executed a nice finish on the X-Men's first real push of the game, hammering home a shot from the top of the box to give X the 1-0 lead.
An aggressive REDS push in the second half put the X-Men on their heels in the early minutes, but X was able to hold and turn the tide.
REDS keeper Louis-Charles Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, QC) was called on to make a couple of saves mid-way through the second half.
There was a flurry of REDS chances in the dying minutes, but Seamus MacDonald (Antigonish, NS) stood his ground in the X net and the visitors held on for the 1-0 win
Veteran X-Men fullback Josh Read (Bath, UK) was named Subway Player of the Game.
"Lucky enough, Kyle's incredible strike at the start gave us a real boost," said Read. "We knew coming into the game that UNB were coming off a big win against Cape Breton. We knew it would be difficult. Things worked out though, and we held on for our points, but UNB played fantastic too."
With the win, the X-Men take sole possession of top spot in the Atlantic University Sport standings with a 4-and-0 record.
UNB is second with a record of 3-and-1.
"Obviously, it's not the result we wanted from the game, they scored a great goal from an outstanding shot and then made it difficult for us to break them down," said REDS head coach Barry Morrison. "It gives us a few things to go back and work on. Positives are, I thought we were great in possession and we were relentless in getting the ball back, so there were lots of good things to build on."
The REDS return to action Friday, when they visit Mount Allison.
The X-Men return home and play host to Memorial on Sunday.
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Courtesy Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics