ANTIGONISH - The UNB Reds earned themselves a 2-1 come from behind victory over the STFX X-Men on Sunday afternoon in AUS soccer action.
The Reds scored goals five minutes apart early in the second half to erase a 1-0 deficit to take the win.
Both teams came out with some urgency to begin the game with heavy challenges from each side.
UNB had back-to-back attempts on net in the 16th minute but neither ball was able to find the back of the net. STFX played a position game early on with their centerbacks holding the ball and waiting for chances to make an outlet pass.
A hard challenge near the top of the 18-yard box led to a yellow card for UNB and a free kick from X-Men midfielder Logan Rieck (Cambridge, ON), who hit one just wide of the net.
STFX goalkeeper Samuel Diltz (Newmarket, ON) had to come up big a few minutes later, with a streaking Keji Andeniyi (London, UK), hitting a low hard shot that Diltz turned aside.
STFX looked dangerous in the 34th minute, and after some probing play, a shot from 30 yards out from Lewis Dye (Fall River, NS) forced UNB keeper Mahmoud Moustafa (Stratford, PE) to make a diving save.
The chances kept coming for the home side late in the first half, and it was Kyle Cordeiro (Oakville, ON) who broke the deadlock, knocking home a low shot in the 40th minute after a nice run.
The fast pace continued into the second half, and UNB threatened on a counterattack about five minutes in but no one was able to get a foot to the ball in front of the net after a low cross from the corner.
The Reds drew even in the 59th minute, with Stefano D'Ambrogio putting a head to a long cross in the box and popping it home. UNB claimed a lead four minutes later, with Diltz making the initial save as Andeniyi came in alone, but Alex Oprea (Winnipeg, MN) picked up the rebound and found paydirt.
The hard tackles continued throughout, and the officials handed out four yellow cards, three for UNB and one for STFX, in the match.
Cordeiro was named player of the game for STFX while defender Olivier Menard (Ottawa, ON) earned player of the game honours for UNB.
Next on the AUS schedules sees the X-Men head to Sydney next Saturday for a matchup with the CBU Capers at 3:15. UNB is hosting Memorial Friday at 7:15 pm in their home opener.
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Recap by Matt Draper, STFX Athletics