Takacs Hat Trick Leads UNB In Big Win

(FREDERICTON, NB) Grant Takacs (Woodstock, ON) scored three goals to lead the UNB Reds in an 11-0 win over the visiting Mount Allison Mounties.

Takacs, who came into the game as a second half sub, scored in the 65^th, 74^th and 78^th minutes, earning Subway Player of the Game.

"I think that's my best night since being here at UNB," said Takacs. "We moved the ball well, we played well, we knew we had to go into this game with a playoff mentality, so we were ruthless and just kept getting chances."

Ben Gorringe (Halifax, NS) and Matt Quigley (Conquerall Mills, NS) each scored twice for UNB.

The Reds got singles from Tristan Nkoghe (Sherbrooke, QC), Dan Walker (Fredericton, NB), Joe Hamilton (Morecambe, UK), and freshman Jake Martin (Winnipeg, MB).

"It's nice to see goals go in, it's nice to see goals go in from a number of different sources and from a number of different places on the field," said Reds head coach Miles Pinsent.

The Mounties and Reds engaged in a spirited battle through the first 20 minutes.

Mount Allison keeper David Desbarats (Dorval, QC) made a couple of huge saves, including one on a penalty kick.

But, in the 23^rd minute, Desbarats was issued a red card for a deliberate hand ball, on a scoring opportunity, outside the 18-yard box.

Michael Cormier (Margaree Valley, NS) came on for Desbarats, as the Mounties went down to ten men.

Hamilton opened the scoring four minutes later, and the Reds never looked back.

"I thought the boys were sharp," said Pinsent. "When the other team goes a man down that kind of opens things up."

Evan Barker (Winnipeg, MB) and graduating senior Kristian D'Amore (Oakville, ON) shared UNB's clean sheet.

"It was special to play at home in a regular season game," said D'Amore. "Our objective today was not to concede a goal and the score line being what it was, that was our utmost priority."

With the win, the Reds finish the regular season with a 7-2-3 record. Their final placing, in the Atlantic University Sport standings is still to be determined, as is their seeding for the AUS playoffs.

The Mounties finish the season 0-12-0 and will miss the playoffs.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Lauren Tidd/for UNB Athletics