V-Reds hosting AUS women's soccer tourney

High noon strikes for the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds Friday.

That's when Andy Cameron's squad makes its return to Atlantic University Sport women's soccer conference playoff action for the first time since the 2006 season.

The V-Reds, who finished sixth in the AUS regular season standings with a 4-7-2 mark for 14 points, face the third place Dalhousie Tigers of Halifax in quarterfinal action at BMO Centre. Cape Breton Capers, fourth place finishers in the regular season, and fifth place St. Francis Xavier X-Men pair off in the other quarterfinal beginning at 2:15 p.m.

Waiting in the wings are the top two teams in the regular season, the pennant winning University of Prince Edward Island Panthers, 11-1-1 on the season; and the Saint Mary's Huskies of Halifax, close behind with a 10-2-1 regular season mark.

Semifinals are at noon and 2:15 p.m. Saturday, with UPEI to take on the lowest surviving seed and the Huskies playing the other survivor. Semifinal winners square off at 2 p.m. Sunday for the AUS banner.

The V-Reds scored 17 goals in their 13 regular season contests, six of them coming off the foot of striker Samantha Lagacy. Breanna Ford and Maggie Spicer added three each. Goaltender Jackie Blank of the V-Reds shared the AUS lead in saves with 67 on the season with Robin Bessemer of Mount Allison, each averaging 5.15 per game. She recorded one shutout.

V-Reds have never won the AUS women's championship. Cape Breton are the reigning champs.

UPEI are seventh in the latest national rankings, with Saint Mary's listed 10th in the last national listing. The winner of the AUS title advances to Montreal's McGill University to represent the conference at the national championship tournament Nov. 10-13.