Murphy Scores OT Winner
16 seconds into OT, UNB wins 3-2
(WOLFVILLE, NS) It took overtime, but just 16 seconds of it.
Matt Murphy(Woodstock, NB) scored 16 seconds into overtime, as the UNB Varsity Reds beat the Acadia Axemen 3-2 on Saturday.
The first period was dominated by the Axemen, as they outshot UNB 12-7 and took a 1-0 lead into the second frame.
UNB responded with a strong second period, where they dominated most of the play and outscored the Axemen 2-1 in the period to tie the game 2-2 heading into the final frame.
The Varsity Reds tied the game a little over three minutes into the second period, when UNB forward Stephen Anderson(Morell, PE) scored on a wrist shot.
Acadia regained the lead moments later.
UNB tied the game again late in the period, with a power-play marker from defenseman Olivier LeBlanc(Quebec City, QC).
Although both teams had their chances in the third, neither were able to break the tie, and the game headed to OT.
UNB defenseman and Subway Player of the Game, Murphy broke in over the blue line and snapped a low wrist shot past Axemen goaltender Robert Steeves(Moncton, NB) for the game-winner.
"The second period is when they got their chances and took advantage," said Acadia captain Liam Maaskant(Clinton, ON). "We played them hard and just a couple of bounces didn't go our way and as a result we just got one point."
Steeves stopped 29 of 32 shots on the night, while his UNB counterpart Alex Dubeau(Mascouche, QC) turned aside 21 of 23.
Both teams now take a break from the Atlantic University Sport regular season.
The Varsity Reds do so with a 15-0-3 record, good for first in the AUS standings. UNB has already clinched a playoff spot.
Acadia sits in fourth place, with an 11-5-2 record.
The Axemen next see action on January 5th, when they host Moncton.
The Varsity Reds host Dalhousie that same night. Game time is scheduled for 7:00pm.
On December 10th, the Varsity Reds will face Poland's national men's team in an exhibition game, at the Aitken Centre. Game time is 2:00pm.
Recap by Joshua Foote, for Acadia Athletics Communications
Photos by Acadia Athletics