(MONCTON, NB) The UNB REDS are headed back to the Atlantic University Sport Championship series.
The REDS advanced with a 4-1 win over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus on Wednesday night to win their best of five AUS semi-final series three games to one.
REDS' forward Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) scored the eventual game-winning goal and was named Subway Player of the Game.
"I think we were great on the forecheck today and we competed and that's what made the difference," said Corbeil. "We needed a little adversity and to bounce back and we're excited for the final."
After a disappointing 4-1 loss to les Aigles Bleus, in game three, on Tuesday night, the REDS wasted little time in exercising those demons, scoring just 2:48 into the first period.
Team captain Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON) beat Moncton goaltender Étienne Montpetit (Valleyfield, QC) from in close
A tight checking game ensued, and UNB took that 1-0 lead to the first intermission.
Moncton appeared to have more life in the second period, but the REDS were able to counter.
Midway through, Corbeil and Emmett Sproule (Collingwood, ON) went into the Moncton zone on a two-on-none break, Sproule feeding a cross-crease pass to Corbeil who slipped the puck past a sliding Montpetit to give the REDS a 2-0 edge.
On a delayed penalty call late in the second, and with UNB working with six skaters, Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON) was left unchecked at the side of the net and had no trouble scoring into an almost open net as Montpetit scrambled across the crease.
At 7:03 of the third period, Jacob Dion (Sherbrooke, QC) got Moncton on the board, but that was all the home team could muster.
UNB's Camaryn Baber (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) added an empty net goal at 19:03 of the third period to ice the REDS victory.
"It's a good feeling to close off that series, obviously it was a hard-fought series," said Willms. "I thought they gave their best there, especially in the third, it was good for this group to go through that., being kind of a close game, there's definitely a lot of happy emotion in that locker room and we're excited and looking forward to the AUS finals."
UNB was more focused Wednesday compared to Tuesday and it showed in the way the REDS attacked Moncton relentlessly.
"A lot of it was our compete level, and give them full credit, they came out with a lot more energy in Game Three than maybe in the first two and it was up to us to match it," said Willms. "I think we did a good job of competing and our first and second efforts. When we're at our best is when we're on that forecheck, getting in on the D, having first and second efforts and forcing the other team to turn it over. I think our compete level was high tonight. We were dumping it in when we needed to dump it in, and we were making plays when we needed to make plays. I think that was the reason for our success here tonight."
Montpetit stopped 29 of the 33 shots he faced, while REDS goalie Samuel Richard ISte. Catherine, QC) made 20 saves on 21 shots for the win.
With the victory, the REDS not only advance to the AUS Championships, where they'll face the Saint Mary's Huskies, they confirm their participation in the upcoming U SPORTS Championship tournament, in Charlottetown, March 16-19.
"It's one of the check points on our road to our final destination," said Willms. "To be left there at number one at the end of the year, but it's really rewarding to do it with this group. For the effort here, that we had in Game Four, I think it'll only bring us closer, and we're excited for what's to come."
RECAP AND PHOTOS BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics