Playoff repercussions

After finishing in the Atlantic University Sport women's soccer conference cellar last season, the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds are right in the playoff mix this season.

The V-Reds downed the Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleues 2-0 last night at Chapman Field to leave both teams with 3-5-2 records for 11 points and a share of sixth.

The top six teams make the playoffs but there is a catch. The Acadia Axewomen have only nine points but, as hosts, are guaranteed a spot in the AUS championship tournament.

UPEI and Dalhousie have locked up two more playoff spots with 24 and 23 points, respectively.

That leaves five teams - Cape Breton (16), St. FX (14), Saint Mary's (12), UNB and Moncton - vying for three berths.

Still, UNB second-year striker Sam Lagacy will take it.

"It feels awesome," Lagacy said. "Last weekend we didn't get the results we wanted (one point in two road games), so it was good to come back and beat a strong team that we knew we had to beat."

The V-Reds opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Olivia Jennings found herself alone behind Moncton's defence, then found the back of the net behind UdeM keeper Danika Jobin.

UNB notched the insurance goal in the 59th minute when Lagacy, a Moncton native, converted a pass from Erica Middleton on a two-on-one break.

"It was a great ball in by Gabby (Doucette) and Erica was nice enough to pass it across," Lagacy said.

"When you get up by two in our league it's tough to come back," UNB head coach Andy Cameron said. "This keeps us in it. We've got three games left and we're competing. We're getting better every week. That's what it's all about."

Erika Ermen made five saves for the shutout - the fourth straight game les Aigles Bleus have put up a goose egg.

The V-Reds know what it's like to struggle offensively. Last season, they scored 11 goals in 13 games. This year, they have 12 through the first 10.

"It's amazing," Lagacy said. "Now we're just scoring goals like it's nothing, but last year when we scored a goal it was like the end of the world."