Host Capers punch ticket to championship final with 3-0 win over Tigers

(SYDNEY, N.S.) The defending AUS and U SPORTS champion Capers are headed back to the conference final after downing Dalhousie 3-0 Friday evening in AUS semifinal action. 

The first half was a scoreless affair, with AUS first team all-star keeper Ben Grondin (Calgary, Alta.) making three saves for the Tigers, and Cape Breton's Ben Jackson (Bury, United Kingdom)—an AUS second team all-star—making two saves for the Capers.

AUS MVP Peter Schaale (Bernkastel-Kues, Germany) opened the scoring for Cape Breton in the second half with a goal in the 61^st minute assisted by Joel Eckert-Ayensa.

AUS first team all-star midfielder Marcus Campanille (Edinburgh, United Kingdom) added a second goal for the hosts in the 78^th minute.

Matt Larter (Waverly, N.S.) sealed the deal for the Capers with another insurance goal in the 86^th minute, assisted by first team conference all-star Cory Bent (Preston, United Kingdom).

Grondin made eight saves in the loss for Dalhousie. Jackson earned the clean sheet for the Capers.

Schaale was named Subway Player of the Game for his game-winning goal.

Freshman defender Alex Knesaurek (Toronto, Ont.) was named player of the game in the loss for the Tigers.

With the win, Cape Breton will now face the UNB Reds in Sunday's championship final set for 4 p.m.

The Capers are two-time defending AUS champions. The Reds earned three consecutive titles from 2013 to 2015.

As finalists, both Cape Breton and UNB have earned a berth in the U SPORTS national championship being hosted next weekend in Vancouver, B.C.