Bennett Scores 4 As UNB Advances To U Cup Final

LETHBRIDGE, AB (U SPORTS) – Kris Bennett scored four time as the UNB Reds beat the St FX X-Men 9-1 to advance to the 2019 Cavendish Farms University Cup championship game, where they'll face the Alberta Golden Bears.

Sunday's championship game pits the tournament's No. 1 seed, Alberta, against the No. 2 seeded Reds.

"You have to be really proud of the effort. Anytime you get to a national semi-final it's an exciting opportunity," noted Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "You get 60 minutes. You want to play every second."

 "We (had) to jump on them and get right after them, right away," added assistant captain and fifth-year defenceman Randy Gazzola about the early goal rush.

UNB would open the scoring at the 1:36 mark of the first period. Fifth-year forward Cam Brace would find himself all alone at the side of the net as he tapped home a centreing pass from second-year forward Kris Bennett to put UNB up by one.

Forward Alex Goulet would double the UNB lead with a short-handed marker following some strong fore-checking in the St FX zone. Goulet forced a turnover just inside the blue line and drove the net hard before sliding a puck past St FX goaltender Chase Marchand.

Just under a minute later, UNB would strike again to extend their lead to three. Bennett would find the middle of the ice and fire home a wrist shot from in between the hash marks.

The offensive onslaught continued for UNB when first year-forward Samuel Dove-McFalls took a breakout pass from fellow freshman Matthew Boucher, streaked up the left wing, and snapped a wrist shot past the outstretched glove of Marchand to put UNB up 4-0.

Adam Laishram would get X on the board early in the second. After a turnover by UNB, Laisharm would gain the blue line with speed and fire a shot that changed direction before finding the back of the cage.

X had an opportunity to cut the lead to two with a lengthy five-on-three power-play, but the X-Men failed to convert. Shortly after the penalties expired, Bennett would tally his second of the game for UNB when he drove the net hard and roofed a backhand shot with the defender draped all over him.

Just over a minute later, UNB would continue to pad their lead. Fourth-year Reds forward and Atlantic University Sport MVP Chris Clapperton would streak in from the left point and slide a puck past Marchand to make it 6-1 Reds.

Bennett would continue to pace the attack for the Reds, notching his third and fourth goals of the game. First-year defenceman Joe Gatenby also found the scoreboard for UNB.

Bennett praised his teammates when asked about his offensive outburst.

"Credit to the guys Every single guy chipped in tonight," he said.

UNB outshot StFX 54-20 in the game.

Puck drop for Sunday's championship game is set for 9:00pm Atlantic, and the game will be televised on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet Now.

St FX takes on Saskatchewan in the bronze medal game at 4:00pm Atlantic.