CAPERS CONTINUE RUN UP THE STANDINGS

(FREDERICTON, NB) The Cape Breton University Capers scored on a late penalty kick to beat the UNB Varsity Reds 1-0, at BMO Centre, on Saturday afternoon.

Joel Eckert-Ayensa(Pulhaim, GER) converted on the penalty, to give the CBU the win.

The Capers improve to 6-1-1 on the season, while the Varsity Reds, who suffered their first loss, are now 3-1-4.

"It means everything," said Capers defender Daniel Pritchard(Nuneaton, UK) of the win. "We lost to them in the AUS final last season, so we wanted to come here and make a statement to everyone in the league, and that's what we did."

The teams appeared evenly matched throughout the contest.

Each one had chances, and each one had to respond to their opponents' opportunities.

"I think, overall, we played well and we deserved to win," said Pritchard, named the Subway Player of the Game.

"It was an evenly played game," said Varsity Reds head coach Miles Pinsent. "But in those evenly played games, the difference is going to be small. We made a defensive error, that led to a penalty being called, and we didn't finish the three or four chances we created at the other end, and that gets you on the wrong side of a close game."

Even with the Capers up 1-0, and time winding down, the Varsity Reds kept coming.

In the final minute, Dan Walker(Fredericton, NB) rolled the ball just wide of the Cape Breton net, missing a game-tying goal.

"It was a great play by Jose(Lopez)," said Walker. "He got me in and I took a touch, tried to get it on my left and I just couldn't get it in."

Walker and his teammates were disappointed with the loss.

"We went at them, we were creating chances, so you can't be too upset, but it is disappointing," said Walker.

Coach Pinsent, upset with the loss as well, says the timing is okay, with a quarter of the season left to play.

"The guys realize they can lose," said Pinsent. "Now that they know what that feels like, maybe we can focus on making sure we don't feel that way again."

Pritchard recognizes the Capers got a break with the late penalty.

"They had their chances, we had our chances," he said. "It looked like it was going to come down to a corner or a set piece, or a penalty like that."

In the wake of the loss, Walker says the Varsity Reds have to re-focus.

"We just need to go out, in the rest of the games we have left, with a can't lose mentality and get maximum points from every game."

The Capers visit Moncton on Sunday, looking to extend a five game winning streak.

The Varsity Reds visit Charlottetown, to take on the UPEI Panthers.

Both games are scheduled to kick-off at 3:15PM.

RECAP AND PHOTOS BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics