Pilots Stay On Top, Blank Cougars At Home

(OTTERBURNE) – First half goals from Garreth Rayner (Johannesburg, SA) and Sean Kirkpatrick (Swan River, MB) proved to be ample offense on Saturday afternoon as Providence went on to win 3-0 over the Assiniboine Cougars in MCAC men’s soccer action.

Rayner put the hosts ahead in the 11^th minute when the elder of the South African siblings neatly deflected younger brother Josh Rayner’s shot from outside the penalty area past the unsuspecting Cougars’ goalkeeper and into the corner of the net. The goal was Rayner’s third of the season.

Six minutes later, captain Kirkpatrick doubled the lead for Providence. Coming from a Pilots’ cornerkick, the athletic senior and central defender rose above his marker to head home his fifth of the campaign, the assist taken off the boot of Garreth Rayner. Providence would take a 2-0 lead into the break.

Not to be outdone, Rashard Hibbert (Brampton, ON) showed off his aerial ability to complete Providence’s scoring in the 74^th minute. Hibbert’s fourth of the season came from a perfectly delivered cross from fullback, Tate Teichgraber (Tsawwassen, BC). After receiving a support pass from Zach Harman (Abbotsford, BC), the rookie defender glanced up and picked out Hibbert’s head at the Cougars’ back post with a 30-yard missile, ensuring the home win for the Pilots.

The victory keeps Providence atop the MCAC Men’s Soccer standings, 3-points clear of the second-place Brandon Bobcats, who have played a total of 9 matches to the Pilots, 10. Santiago Vasquez (Cochabamba, BO) stopped all 3 Cougars’ shots he faced to register the clean sheet in goal for Providence.