B2

By Darcey McLaughlin

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Tempers boiled over as teams shook hands Thursday afternoon following a game of varsity high school soccer between the Miramichi Valley Pulamoo and the École Marie-Ester Vikings of Shippagan.

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EME won the game 2-1, but as the teams shook hands a pushing and shoving match broke out. Referee and coaches had to step in and pull players apart before an actual fight could start.

Although the match referee did not see what happened, an EME player told him he took exception to something that was done to him during the handshakes. Players continued to chirp at each other as the walked away.

The game itself was a good one with lots of chances for both teams and strong, but clean, physical play. Heavy rain throughout the day had soaked the MVHS pitch, which was a soggy, puddle-filled mess at kick off.

In the first half, the Vikings seemed better able to deal with the poor conditions and they would capitalize in the 9th minute as EME was allowed to walk into the box where Justin Vienneau beat MVHS keeper Logan Keoughan to take a the 1-0 lead.

MVHS would play a much better second half and even things up late, as the home side was awarded a free kick as the result of a hand ball just outside the EME box. John Mullin would take it, putting it past Vikings' keeper Jonathan Dubé in the 58th minute to tie the game 1-1.

Less than a minute later EME would charge down the pitch and get away a shot that bounced off the far corner of the post in a heart-stopping moment for everyone.

They would eventually go ahead.

With two minutes to play in the game from a throw deep in the MVHS end, EME would get the ball into the box. Keoughan would make the first save but give up the fat rebound to Alexandre Robichaud who scored as the MVHS keeper who would punch the mud in frustration.

The Pulamoo would get a chance to tie it up in the dying seconds.

After a flurry of chances in front of the EME net following the goal, MVHS was given another free kick outside the box. Mullin would take it again, but fire it wide as the full-time whistle blew, ending the game and giving the Vikings the 2-1 win.