UNB UNBEATEN STREAK ENDS WITH 0-1 LOSS TO DALHOUSIE

Courtesy of UNB Athletics

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) The Varsity Reds women's soccer team has lost their first game of the regular season after being bested by the Dalhousie Tigers 0-1.

UNB remains the top-ranked team in the AUS with a record of 6-1-2. Last week they were ranked tenth in the CIS. This is the first time they have been ranked in the CIS top ten since 2007.

The women faced off on a cold and very rainy day in Fredericton. UNB head coach Jonathan Crossland says he knew going into the game that it was going to be a battle, and not just against the elements.

The first and only goal of the game came from Dalhousie's Scarlett Smith at 35:59. 

The second half saw UNB pick up the intensity as they tried to get up on the scoreboard. As Crossland says, the chances were there, it's just the follow-through that was lacking.

"For large parts of that second half we controlled the game," he said. "We created chances of crosses and what not and we just didn't find the end of it."

In goal for UNB was rookie Rebecca Duda. Duda stepped in during last Friday's match against Moncton after Sami Jo Bell, who had until then started every game for the V-Reds, suffered an injury. Bell watched from the sidelines tonight as well.

Duda was again confident in net, making six saves. 

The Varsity Reds now have a break in play until after Thanksgiving. At that time, they hope to resume what has been a storybook season thus far.

"There's a silver lining at the end of this," Crossland said. "We're going to wake up tomorrow morning and we're still going to be in first place. We've got four games after that break that we're going to control our own destiny in."

UNB plays next against UPEI in Charlottetown at 5pm on October 17.

Dalhousie plays Acadia at the same time.