Deserved Or Not, Men's Soccer Escape Otterburne With Maximum Points
Two goals late in the contest allowed Men's Soccer to steal three points away from the Providence Pilots on Saturday afternoon in Otterburne on MCAC Kickoff Weekend 2016.
After out-chancing the hosts 8-1 in the first half, CMU was unable to convert on even one chance in the opening forty-five minutes. Ryan Jensen zipped a free-kick just over the bar in the 28th minute and Ben Wride missed a glorious opportunity to give the Blazers the lead when he was awarded a penalty kick in the 32nd minute only to be shunned by Pilot's first year goalkeeper Darcy Friesen.
The home team grabbed the match by the throat at the midway point of the second half, when rookie defender Jopthe Francis pounced on a loose ball that bounced through the penalty area and kicked Providence into a 1-0 advantage.
The fate of the match twisted in the 87th minute when Wride, a fourth year co-captain, was awarded his second penalty kick of the game after being fouled in the area. This time the striker would not be denied as he slotted a goal passed the outstretched 'keeper to level the score.
Deep in injury time, the Blazers did it again! Cole Johnson, who was relentless in his running throughout the match, stood over a freekick near the touchline in the 94th minute and delivered a cross that could only be bound for goal. On the end of the fifth year's pass, rookie defender Daniel McIntyre-Ridd opened his CMU goal scoring account in style as he lifted his team to a opening day victory and all three points.
The Blazers dropped points on Sunday afternoon when the Red River Rebels visited the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex and came away with a 3-0 win. CMU were without the services of Nick Czehryn and Michael Veremu, who were held out of action by injuries that occured in Saturday's match and were unable to establish many quality chances to score.
Rebel's front-man Anderson Periera played a pivotal role in the match, scoring twice and nearly scoring a third from the penalty spot; a goal that would have given his team a 4-0 lead. CMU goalkeeper Robbie Friesen was equal to the challenge as the second year dove to his left to keep the visitors in striking distance.
The next action for Men's Soccer comes Saturday when a rematch of the 2015 MCAC Championship is on the schedule. The Blazers travel to St Vital to tackle Les Rouges de USB at 3pm.
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