Capers season hinges on final game
Andrew Rigby's slapshot-like strike late in hte second half propelled the surging Capers men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over the StFX X-Men and kept their playoff hopes alive.
The clutch mark to the top left-hand corner of the goal in the 86th minute came seconds after the X-Men threatened to score a goal of their own.
“I just came over and put as much power as I could into the ball and, luckily, it went in,” said Rigby, a two-time AUS Most Valuable Player, as he left the playing field.
“We were at a desperation point where we really needed a goal because we really needed to win this game to get into playoffs, so I just came over and put all my power into it.”
The decisive goal came after the Cape Breton University defense, led by their keeper Andy Murphy, thwarted a St. FX scoring chance.
Once the defenders cleared the ball, Rigby led two other Capers into the attacking zone and rightfully opted to shoot instead of pass.
Although some injury time was added, the goal all but ended an evenly played match that saw the visiting team pick up the majority of first half chances and the host team carry play in the second half.
“When we had lots of energy we used it to defend against the wind and then take our chances in the second half because we have a lot of offensive threats,” said Capers coach Robbie Chiasson.
“We didn’t want to fall behind in the first half because ‘X’ have a very good team. It’s funny, right now they are out of the playoffs, but they are one of the top teams in the league. Our players said that was the best team we played all year. It was a good game.”
The scoreless draw stretched Cape Breton University’s (5-3-4) unbeaten streak to six games and pushed them from fifth to third place in the Atlantic University Sport standings, but that could change today when most of their rivals are on the pitch.
The Capers will have to win or at least tie their final match of the season, today versus Acadia, to make the playoffs. Game time is 5:15 p.m. at Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex.