With files from Blake Edwards
With the new school year underway, the new season is already well underway for several UNB sports teams. Here is a quick look back at some of the sports stories you may have missed over the past week.
Men’s Rugby strong in win over STU
This past Sunday the UNB Ironmen took on a new look STU Tommies men’s team for the first of two regular season matches.
The first half saw the UNB Ironmen with the majority of ball possession to start the game keeping STU on their back foot, but STU proved to be a highly resilient team making tackle after tackle. Billy Hornady after sustained pressure finally was able to punch a ball over the tryline to open the score for UNB and would be the first of his two on the day. Nic Woods found space through the line to rumble for a 40 yard try just shortly after. STU kept battling with the likes of Jesse Reynolds and Zach Klassen exerting physical dominance around the pitch. Nic Woods would add another and Logan Crawford in his first ever game with UNB scored a try in the last minutes of the first half.
The second half saw STU with more ball possession, making UNB play defensive and pinning them inside their 22 multiple times. However, UNB’s defense would bend but not break. UNB in the last 20 went on the offensive which saw Kyle Kaufman, Kyle Patterson, Ben Hodd all touch down for tries. Kyle Paterson alsomade 2 converts on the day. Final score 34-0 for UNB Ironmen.
Men of the Match awards went to Jesse Reynolds for STU and Billy Hornaday for UNB. The Ironmen’s next game will be against UPEI Panthers on September 14th, at College Field for both A and B sides.
Reds held scoreless in Women’s Soccer opening weekend
The Reds were unable to get on the scoreboard in their first two games of the AUS women’s soccer regular season.
They opened their season Friday evening on the road against the Cape Breton University Capers in a game that saw the Reds threaten the defending AUS champions repeatedly in the first half, only to be thwarted by CBU goalkeeper Rachel Yerxa. Whatever was said in the Capers locker room during halftime certainly seemed effective as the final 45 minutes looked very different than the first. The Capers began showing the dominant form that has led them to three divisional championships in the past four seasons, as they scored twice in nine shots on goal while holding the Reds to just one shot on goal in the second half en route to a 2-0 win.
This was followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat to St.FX on Sunday in what proved to be an evenly matched affair. First-year striker Allie Hughes-Goyette impressed throughout the game, threatening St. FX keeper Alyssa Spridgeon with three shots on goal on her way to being named UNB female Athlete of the Week. She will be looking to notch the first goal of her AUS career this upcoming weekend as the Reds return home to BMO Field for a pair of games against Memorial and UPEI.
Efficient finishing earns men’s soccer big win over X-Men
The Reds’ ability to make the most of their chances was the difference Sunday as they scored an impressive four goals on eight shots on target while UNB goalkeeper Evan Barket limited St.FX to just one goal, turning away seven of the eight shots he faced. Their 4-1 victory over X was preceded by a 2-1 defeat in their season opener against Cape Breton. Like the Capers’ women’s team, the men’s team has been a dominant force in the AUS over recent years, winning three divisional championships in a row.
Fifth-year Reds striker, and team captain, Ben Dorringe scored a goal in both games – winning him the UNB male Athlete of the Week award.