V-Reds squeeze past Axemen, Capers post 4-0 win over UPEI

UNB top host Axemen in Semi-Final 1-0 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 AUS Championship host Acadia Axemen.

The V-Reds and Axemen wrapped up the last weekend of the regular season with a 1-1 but this game was for much higher stakes. Not only would the winner advance to the AUS championship game on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., but they would also gain a berth into the CIS Championship weekend at York University.

With both teams exchanging opportunities to score in the opening 20 minutes including Matthew Berrigan's ball off of the post at the midpoint of the first half, the game began to sway in UNB's favour during closing minutes of the first half.

Fourth year 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.

The Varsity Reds 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 to force the game into overtime.

Miles Pinsent, coach of the Varsity Reds, noted that the pressure came from the Axemen in the second half but his team handled the situation. "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. 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."

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

The Varsity Reds will defend their 2014 championship against Cape Breton as they did last year in St. John's, Nfld.

Capers earn second consecutive visit to finals with 4-0 win over Panthers

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The Cape Breton Capers will have a chance break UNB's two year grip on the AUS Title as they advance to the final game set for Sunday at 2:00 pm on Acadia's Raymond Field after a 4-0 win over the UPEI Panthers in semi-final action.

The Capers maintained control of the game from the onset but the Panthers continued to fight for every ball and the eventual final score was not a reflection of the play by UPEI.

AUS first team all-star Sandro Rajkovic (Hamilton, Ont.), who grabbed the Subway Player of the Game honours for the Capers, netted the first goal and eventual game winner at the 34 minute mark.

Stuart Heath (Belfast, Ireland), who played as a defender early in the season but transitioned to the forward position, scored the second Caper goal at 43 minutes and their third at 57 minutes.

Nico Gibbons (Hamilton, Bermuda) added the fourth Caper goal with 15 minutes remaining in the game to give the Capers their second consecutive matchup against the UNB Varsity Reds in the AUS Championship. The last time Cape Breton won the AUS men's soccer championship was the 2012 season when they topped UNB 2-0 in Charlottetown.

Panther Cole MacMillan (Stanhope, P.E.I.) was named the Subway Player of the Game for UPEI.

Caper Head Coach Dean Morley pointed out that his team was relieved following the game. "The boys on the team were delighted and a sense of relief on these nights where you win or go home"

Morley credited the Panthers for a hard fought match. "A lot of credit to UPEI. They never stopped once and Lewis Page is a phenomenal coach who has done a great job with a young team rebuilding", adding "We worked very hard and we stuck to our game plane and are happy with the win."

The AUS will have both finalists at the CIS Championship hosted by York University since the conference is granted this season, on a rotational basis, two berth into the national championship weekend.