Defending champs open season with win!

SYDNEY, NS) The CBU Capers edged the UNB Reds 2-0 on Friday evening.

The Reds were all over the Capers early in the first half with goalkeeper Rachel Yerxa making 2 great saves early on to keep the score at 0, but CBU Capers Striker Mackenzie Smith (Ottawa, ON)  had a great run being cut short 2 times once by defender Cynthia Smith (Laval, QC) and once by goalkeeper Brynn Nash (Saskatoon, SK). It was a show of defense and patience early in the first half with plenty of runs ended by strong defensive strides. 

The second half started out with CBU applying pressure and getting great looks keeping the UNB keeper Brynn Nash on her feet having to make a few saves early on. The shots were taken by CBU's Alliyah Rowe (Kitchener,  ON) and a wide header by Rachel Leck (Pickering, ON). A great combo for the Capers were the duo of Fatou Ndiaye (Pierrefonds, QC) and keeper Rachel Yerxa (Mississauga, ON) with Ndiaye doing a great job using her speed to disrupt the UNB strikers and give Yerxa the angle to make the save.

In the 69th minute a free kick by Ciera Disipio (Ottawa, ON) turned into a beautiful assist for a great goal by Rachel Leck (Pickering, ON)  to give the Capers the 1-0 lead and CBU didn't slow down as they kept attacking and after a few nice stops by UNB keeper Brynn Nash (Saskatoon, SK) in the 74th minute Mackenna King dribbled through the UNB Fullbacks and set up Alliyah Rowe for the goal to give the Capers the 2-0 lead late in the second half. The Reds had a few late-game runs to try and score with shots by Sylvie Fecteau (Moncton, NB) but they were stopped by Rachel Yerxa and she ended the game with a shutout to start the season! 

With a goal and 2 shots on goal Rachel Leck is the Subway player of the game.

Next up for CBU is on Sunday and it's a match against UPEI Sunday at 3:00 pm at Cape Breton University 

RECAP:Daniel Briand/for CBU Athletics

PHOTOS: Vaughan Merchant