UPEI MEN’S SOCCER JUGGERNAUT DESTROYS MONCTON 9-0

In soccer, the Men’s Panthers put on a clinic of goal scoring prowess against a much more inexperienced Moncton team on Wednesday. “The boys worked hard,” said veteran Jordan Chandler. “Mattie T was outstand-

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ing. Indeed he was. Matt Thompson, a UPEI striker,

blitzed a shocked Moncton team for three goals, two of .

which came about halfway through the first half as UPEI built up a 5-0 lead before adding four more in the second frame.

It was the second romping of an opponent in two games for UPEI, as both veterans and rookies saw time on the field in the rout. But the fact that Moncton was an easy target definitely did not faze the men going into the game. Knowing that underdogs can be dangerous, Chandler pointed out that the men “go into every game with the same mindset, and that’s to do [their] job.” Communication was also key in the win, as the men read every play like they had books in front of them, dancing around a helpless Moncton defence.

The young Moncton squad was not given much chance from most fans at the outset, being a young team full of rookies from a small university.

The men hope to continue the streak the weekend of

the 18-19th, as they travel to Cape Breton to take on the Capers at UCCB. The girls will be traveling with them, and also playing the Capers. The women, at 1-0-1 so far this season, are looking to add to their win total this Friday versus Memorial here at home.

EDITORIAL — SKATING JUST ANOTHER SPORT UNLIKE ANY OTHER

When you see someone like Mitchell Arsenault, the first word that comes into mind probably isn’t though it may be more along the lines of “hoodlum.” Sporting ripped sleeves, ear- rings, baggy pants, and assort- ed jewelry including bracelets and chains, Mitch almost seems out of place in context with the aging buildings and air of intellectualism that breathes from the main floor of the main building. Bearing two large, obtuse rollerblades strapped to his backpack, Mitch Arsenault is a skater, and definitely not a hoodlum.

“Some building owners call it vandalism,” laughs Arsenault. “What we skate on is plastic.”

When asked about the recently built skating facility in Victoria Park, Arsenault says it has “greatly improved” the amount of, and tolerance for, skating in the greater Charlottetown area. “There are kids who get lessons to do it now,” he says. “OLS (Outer Limit Sports) puts on pro- grams to teach the how.

“It’s great.” Arsenault was not as lucky as the new generation of skaters. Having played ice and

“athlete,”

defenceman are two totally different things. It put a new perspective on it for him — having only seen skating tricks on ESPN. One of his friends opened his eyes, and it opened a whole new world up to Mitch. He hopes that one day it will be as popular in the cap- ital as it is elsewhere. Competitions are fre- quently held throughout the Maritimes, although Arsenault is quick to point out that there are not many participants from Charlottetown. “You’d be sur- prised at how many there are from smaller places, like Summerside and Truro.”

All the same, he feels it is finally beginning to catch on with the youth, especially those under 15. He thinks it provides a welcome relief from the hardcore competition found in other sports.

“It’s different from hock- ey or soccer, more relaxed, more fun, you know...We’re | out there to progress -- it’s kind of like learning to shoot top corner in a hockey net, [when you] learn to soul grind down a rail.

“It’s a good feeling.” —

roller hockey with friends for _

10-11 years, Arsenault was no

stranger to skates, but doing tricks from a rail and deking a

UPEI Cadre September 28, 2004 page 22