Antigonish, NS - On Sunday afternoon at STFX Stadium the STFX X-Men secured three valuable points against a determined Mount Allison Mounties squad with a 3-0 shutout victory.
The first half was a spirited affair with both teams eager, by fair means or foul, to keep possession of the ball. The X-Men threatened early and often as they looked to maintain their lead at the top of the AUS standings.
Wing-back Jack Kennedy made numerous great runs down the flank and provided several great crosses and deft passes to his forwards.
The Mounties defence, admirably anchored by Xavier Tshimpangila, had to be at his best to break up STFX's attacking play and make the necessary clearing kicks. While X had more of the chances, the closest either team came to scoring was when Mounties striker Bobby Kroczynski hit the post.
The Mounties did well to absorb the X-Men pressure throughout the opening half and it was unfortunate that Kroczynski's good play on and off the ball did not result in a goal.
After an honours-even first half, the X-Men would show the form that has helped them secure their impressive record.
STFX efficiently passed the ball up field and an alert pass from Carson Ripoll to Nick Aquino inside the 18-yard box resulted in a clever Aquino turn to elude the Mountie defenders. Aquino quickly fired into the far corner and past Chambers in the 53rd minute of play to break the goose egg.
Ten minutes later X would double their lead courtesy of the impressive Logan Rieck. On his second corner kick in quick succession, he did not require the head or foot of his teammates as his perfectly struck kick found its way into the Mountie net.
StFX's third goal of the match was also a result of a perfect kick from distance. The play began with Dyan Vil winning the ball back for the X-Men and, after a few quick passes, the ball ended back on the foot of Vil. He then hit a 35-yard strike into the box that landed at the feet of Ziad Abdelrahman. Abdelrahman settled the ball with his first touch and then calmly deposited the ball into the back of the net in the 83rd minute to secure victory for the X-Men.
Veteran defender Josh Read received Subway Player of the Game honours in his final home game played at STFX Stadium for his steady and consistent play in the X-Men backline.
The Mounties will next see action when they face the UNB Reds Friday, October 29th in St. John.
The X-Men also play Friday evening as they travel to Halifax to meet Dalhousie.
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Courtesy Bart Sears, STFX Sports Information
Josh Read picks up Subway Player of the Game in his final regular season home game at StFX Stadium! The X-Men topped MTA 3-0! #goxgo #subwayfuel pic.twitter.com/UVGV9KGpbd
— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) October 24, 2021
Prior to the game X-Men Head Coach Graham Kennedy honoured 4th and 5th year student-athletes (L to R): Josh Read, Seamus MacDonald, Will Veinot, AJ Hewish, Nick Aquino and Blake Fenton