UNB top host Axemen 1-0 in Subway AUS Men’s Soccer Championship semifinal thriller

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The UNB Varsity Reds will have a chance to three-peat as AUS champions following their 1-0 semi-final win over the championship host Acadia Axemen.

With the win, the Varsity Reds secure their spot in Sunday's championship final as well as their trip to the CIS national championship Nov. 12-15 at York University in Toronto where the AUS will have two berths this season.

Both teams exchanged opportunities to score in the game's opening 20 minutes, including a shot off the post from third-year Acadia striker Matthew Berrigan (Halifax, N.S.).

Fourth-year Varsity Reds striker Oliver Jones (London, England) found a loose ball in close confines of the keeper's box to score the only goal of the match at 41 minutes.

UNB posted 10 shots, landing six on goal with third-year Acadia keeper Nigel Goodwin (Milton, Ont.) making several key saves to keep the Axemen within striking distance.

But, with time winding down in the closing minutes and the V-Reds playing as tight defensive unit, the Axemen fell short of forcing the game into overtime.

"In these do or die games, you expect the opposition to throw anything at you and the game becomes a little unorthodox and your flow leaves you in the second half," said UNB head coach Miles Pinsent. "Acadia took advantage of that and had some quality chances. But overall we dealt with it well and I don't think we had a huge threat on our goal but they did have some meaningful possession around our end."

AUS first team all-star defender Andrew Snyder (Bridgewater, Ont.), was named as the Subway Player of the Game for the Axemen.

The reigning AUS champion Varsity Reds will defend their title against the Cape Breton Capers, as they did in last year's final in St. John's, N.L.

All games of the AUS championship are being broadcast on Bell Aliant's FibreOP TV1 and are also available via webcast at www.AUStv.ca.

Source: Acadia Sports Communications