(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS advanced in dramatic fashion at the Maritime University Field Lacrosse League Championship, scoring three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to beat the UPEI Panthers 6-5 on Friday night, at Huskies Stadium, in Halifax.
“It feels good to get out of there with a win tonight,” said REDS’ head coach Chris Burgess. “We were a bit shaky on the front end, but glad we battled through the adversity as a team and got through it.”
The REDS got off to a great start after attackman Mac Huckla found a cutting Nick Parsons open in the slot for a step-down look to open the scoring for UNB.
The Panthers would respond just minutes later, as Logan Saulnier used an unsettled transition play to beat REDS goalie Zach Cogswell tie things up.
Then, with just seconds left in the first quarter, Austin Hirschfeld would restore UNB’s lead, burying a feed from Huckla, top corner, to put UNB up 2-1 lead to close the opening quarter.
Huckla continued to set up his REDS teammates, adding his third assist of the half when he found midfielder Trai Maxwell open in front of the UPEI net to increase the UNB lead to 3-1.
The Panthers answered back with Saulnier scoring his second of the game, corralling a deflected shot in front of the UNB net for the put back goal.
A short time later, Panthers attackman Matthieu Valois would tie things up after cutting up from behind the UNB net to find an open look in front, tying the game 3-3 heading to halftime.
Coming out of the half, the Panthers took their first lead of the game after UNB left Valois wide-open in transition to find his second goal of the night and a give UPEI the 4-3 lead.
The transition game continued to affect the REDS as a streaking Ethan MacDonald would find the back of the cage, sniping one over the head of Cogswell to add to the Panthers lead.
Valois would add his third of the night, yet another wide-open chance in front of the UNB net late in the third quarter, but Cogswell robbed the UPEI attackman with a huge save in tight to keep the Panthers lead at two.
Cogswell would make six saves on the night for the REDS.
In the fourth quarter, down by two goals with just over five minutes to play, the REDS were running out of time. That’s when an untimely penalty for the Panthers allowed UNB to capitalize on a man-up situation as Austin De Mora netted his first of the game to bring the REDS within one.
“Ultimately, we just had to get back to our game,” said Burgess. “The message became very simple, keep your eyes up and let the game come to you. Confident players don’t need to rush things.”
Then, just seconds later, a clean faceoff win from Parsons would set up Braden Galbraith on the fast break, and he beat UPEI goalie Dave Burke to tie the game 5-5.
A minute later Maxwell would find De Mora wide open on a back door cut to beat Burke and give UNB the lead 6-5 with 3:40 remaining in the fourth.
“I saw the opportunity to cut back door and got a great feed from Trai Maxwell that allowed me to get wide open on the doorstep,” said De Mora.
The Panthers would have one final chance with just 30 seconds left to play, and the ball in the UNB end. But Cogswell would make his best save of the night, stoning Max Will right in front of the net before the REDS gained possession to run out the clock.
The REDS advance to the MUFLL semi-finals, Saturday, where they face the top-ranked Dalhousie Tigers. Game time at Huskies Stadium.
“We need to do all the little things right,” said Burgess. “We need to play hard between the whistles, eat slashes and cash in on special teams opportunities.”
RECAP BY: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics
PHOTO: File