SOCCER PANTHERS

KICK OFF NEW

SEASON

The start of what looks to be another exciting season of soccer at UPEI took place on Sunday September 12%. The Men’s and Woman’s teams opened at home against the University de Moncton Anges Bleue (Blue Angles). Only the Men’s team accomplished a victory but the play of both teams shows promise for the season with outstanding play from returning players as well as new ones.

The Woman’s team took to the field tirst and played well

for the duration of the game.

Moncton scored first when Mireille Allain put one by UPEI’s keeper Kim Gray. The Panthers answered back with exciting play from two first year players. Kinza Baker booted a well placed corner kick in front of Moncton’s net that was eventually put in by Joe Ellen MacKinnon. At the end of the first half the teams were tied 1-1. Early in the second half Moncton’s Caroline Le Gredey and Lucie Maturich-Ring were able to score giving their team a 3-1 lead. The Panthers continued to play hard but were only able to come up with one more goal which was scored by captain Lana Birch late in the second

half.

The afternoon’s second game saw UPEI’s own 1998-99 AUA soccer champs open to a large crowd at MacAdam field. The Panthers outplayed Moncton the entire-game and this was reflected in the final score. UPEI’s Assistant Cap- tain John Michael Murphy opened the scoring early in the first half with an impressive head ball past Marc Lafontaine, Moncton’s keeper. Scoring second for the Panther was John Sutton who was also

able to score with a head ball. Before the end of the half UPEI’s Goran Rudic scored twice giving the Panthers a 4-0 lead going into the second half. The second half was not much different as UPEI continued to dominate the play and the

scoreboard. The Panthers added four more goals in the second half, two by returning

‘players Kris Mac Kinnon and

Ryan O’Connedll; first year players Adam

Foster and Patrick O’Connell each picked up a goal. A low for the team occurred in the second half when John Michael Murphy sustained an injury. Fortunately Murphy, who is in his final season, will only be out for 6-8 days. Highlights for the team were excellent play from the team’s captain Brodie McMurrer and the rest of the returning players as well as outstanding play from some of the first year

players. = END

[Title Shets

Returning Asst. Captain John Sutton holds the Panther’s AUAA title banner.

club.

CIAU player of the year, Glen Miller (13) celebrates the

AUAA title with UPEI athletic director Barb Mullaly.

New Captain Brodie McMurrer (Far Left) cel- ebrates with the rest of the