REDS Upset Top Ranked Capers
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS overcame thunder, lightning, torrential rain, two lengthy suspensions of play and the top-ranked team in the country on Saturday.
The U SPORTS 7th ranked REDS scored three second half goals to beat the No. 1 Capers 4-2, in a game played at Fredericton's Willie O'Ree Place Complex.
It was the first UNB win over Cape Breton, in Atlantic University Sport regular or post season play, since the 2015 AUS Championship game.
"It feels great, it feels amazing," said veteran REDS striker Grant Takacs (Woodstock, NB). "We've put a lot of work in, last season and this season, and we couldn't have done it without everyone."
The REDS opened the scoring in the final minute of the first half.
Tom Pheulpin (San Antonio, TX) found a bouncing ball following a free kick in the 45th minute and fired a shot past Capers keeper Daniel Clarke (Milton Keynes, UK).
Half time did little to slow the REDS, who began the second half with two quick strikes.
In the 49th minute, Takacs beat Clarke. And in the 53rd minute, off a free kick, a Joe Hamilton (Morecambe, UK) header gave the home team a 3-0 lead.
The Capers got one back in the 57th minute.
First-year midfielder Ousman Cham (Kinsley, ON) struck a ball that eluded REDS keeper Louis-Charles Vaillancourt (Sherbrooke, QC).
UNB restored their three-goal edge a short time later when Pheulpin broke down the left wing and put a ball in front that Takacs tapped into the Capers net for his second of the game.
Undaunted, the Capers made it 4-2 in the 68th minute on a goal by Cian Lynch (Dublin, UK). His high shot ricocheted off the crossbar and officials ruled the ball came down inside the goal line.
Moments later, with Cape Breton pressing for another, Vaillancourt made a sprawling save to preserve UNB's two-goal lead.
With just over 80 minutes played, the game was suspended when thunder sounded in the Fredericton area.
After a delay of more than 30 minutes, the teams returned to the field and resumed the game. That resumption lasted only about a minute before officials were forced to suspend play again, because of thunder and lightning.
After a second delay of more than 30 minutes, UNB and the Capers returned to the field again.
Play was intense over the final ten minutes and stoppage time, but there was no more scoring.
"The delays were inconvenient, but we still knew what we had to do," said Takacs. "We stayed in the zone and finished the game."
With the win, the REDS are now 3-and-0 to start the season. The Capers record stands at a win and a loss.
Both teams are back in action Sunday.
Cape Breton visits Moncton.
The REDS host No. 9 ranked St FX. Game time is 3:15pm.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics