Sarah Eden’s late goal sends Panthers to victory

By Thomas Becker

The UPEI Panthers did something they haven't done since 2012: win on opening day. 

The Panthers (1-0) earned a hard fought 1-0 win over the Mount Allison Mounties (0-1) behind a late goal from fourth-year midfielder Sarah Eden. 

In the 85th minute, Eden took a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box and tucked it under the crossbar for the winning goal.

"One of our goals coming into the season is to be more like a family and push toward something greater together," said Eden after an emotional win. 

As for the goal, Eden said she just wanted to get a good shot off and allow her teammates to put away a potential rebound.

"I knew that even if I didn't score that one, one of my teammates would be behind the ball, ready to win it."

Both teams came into the game a bit timid, but that changed in the second half as the field opened up for the players and the scoring chances started to come.

The first opportunity came in the 51st minute when the Mounties countered following a Panther corner kick. The ball was cleared to Victoria Jones, who raced down the field with a defender on her hip and got shot off, but Claudia Mazzei dove to her right to make the save.

UPEI striker Wendy Dadzie came in as a second half substitute and was an immediate spark. She played with pace and without fear and almost set up the team's first goal. In the 60th minute, Dadzie gathered a throw-in from Olivia Cummings and centred a pass to Madison Fisher, who fired it wide left.

Mount Allison's Kathryn Perry had a good look in the 64th minute after a teammate centred a pass for a clear shot only to be denied by Mazzei, who made another diving stop.

Three minutes later, UPEI's Caitlyn McCloskey couldn't connect on a great opportunity as Lennon Rutledge matched her counterpart with her own diving save.

However, there was nothing she could do about Eden's perfectly placed shot that gave UPEI the lead with five minutes to spare.

"In the first half, we were playing really well, but we were still playing with a little bit of doubt," said Panthers head coach Lewis Page. "We had to be brave, and we were in the second half."

The Panthers look to start their season 2-0 when they take on the visiting Acadia Axewomen Sunday at 1 p.m.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek