Pangea Cup reclaimed by faculty - stunning show of last minute brilliance
By: Dr. John "Special K" Kovacs
Last year was an unsettling year for the fans of the beautiful game as many perennial powerhouse clubs were eclipsed by relatively unknown squads for coveted premiere soccer titles and Nipissing’s Pangea Cup championship title was no exception as the faculty fell to the students in a thrilling contest.
Fortunately, last Wednesday night the faculty reclaimed the coveted title and hope that their success will inspire the likes of the Chelseas and Real Madrids to take back what is rightfully theirs.
The game began with 20 minutes of quick attacking and counter attacking play in what appeared to be a stalemate. However, with decades of experience over the students, Martin “Handyman” Holmes, finally broke through the feisty defensive shell of the students to send a rocket past their keeper opening up the scoring.
Only five minutes later Dan “Mess(i)y” Walters doubled the faculty lead with a stunning chip shot from midfield to end the first half at 2-0.
Although exceptional in net, it was decided that Alex “the Wall” Gnuchiy was to be replaced by Kirsten “Swiss Cheese” Greer in the second half a fatal mistake the faculty team would soon regret.
Only minutes into the second half did the students realize the skill level of the new keeper and, like bees, swarmed the faculty net scoring their first goal.
“Handyman” Holmes tried to crush the new found confidence of the students with a breakthrough third faculty goal but it was simply too late. The students came back and sent volley after volley of shots at “Swiss Cheese” Greer, scoring three unanswered goals in less than three minutes and quickly tying up the game.
With little time left in regulation, the faculty switched goalies and the game returned to a more equitable battle of strength, skill and determination. Sensing the physical exhaustion of the students, the professors quickly switched to their world renown “tiki-taka” style of play stunning the students as they weaved through them with ease. Channeling his frustration from last year’s defeat but more likely from the results of his fall student opinion surveys, Logan “Shorty” Hoehn took complete control of the pitch, scoring four brilliant goals in the last five minutes to secure the 8-4 faculty victory.
The faculty would like to thank the students for another worthy challenge.