Mercer Magic! Colby's hat-trick powers Huskies to 3-2 over Aigles Bleus

MONCTON, NB – Saint Mary's forward Colby Mercer - the reigning Atlantic University Sport Men's Athlete of the Week - continued his phenomenal play, scoring a hat-trick to lead the Huskies to their third straight victory, a 3-2 win over the Moncton Aigles Bleus on Friday night in Moncton, NB.

It was the Aigles Bleus who found the first few quality chances of the match – in the fourth minute, forward Soumaila Mohamed Dagnoko worked his way into the box and attempted a dangerous cross, but Huskies goalkeeper Ryan Davis (Lake Loon, NS) was able to snag it to end the threat. On the ensuing counter attack, Huskies midfielder Nathaniel Langille (St. Margaret's Bay, NS) broke out on a half chance, but Aigles Bleus goalkeeper Soan Janssen turned the attempt away.

Moncton thought they had found a go-ahead goal in the 6^th minute, as league leading scorer Jonathan Kisse snuck behind the defence and beat Davis, but was called offside. Moments later the Aigles Bleus had another scoring attempt on a cross just off the goal line, but Huskies defender Callum Corkum (Camperdown, NS) was able to clear it away.

Saint Mary's offence came alive in the last ten minutes of the first half. Midfielder Lachlan Sylvester (Hackett's Cove, NS) had a shot from inside the box just sail high over the crossbar. Moments later it would be the Huskies turn to have a goal called offside – defender Matteo Santos-Brown (London, ON) played a great cross to midfielder Colton Kaizer (Chester Basin, NS) who volleyed it into goal, but another Huskies attacker was called offside.

After 43 minutes of back-and-forth action, the Huskies finally got their go-ahead goal in the 44^th minute. Forward Sean Freeman (Halifax, NS) played a great ball into the box for teammate Colby Mercer (Beaverbank, NS) who was tripped up by a Aigles Bleus defender, with the official calling for a penalty kick. Mercer stepped up to the spot and drilled a shot into the bottom left corner, scoring for the third consecutive game, and giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️

Colby Mercer is on fire!!! The reigning @AUS_SUA Athlete of the Week scores a penalty kick for his third goal in as many games, giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute! pic.twitter.com/7vP3lX4e7Z

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) September 13, 2024

But that lead would be short-lived, as less than minute later Moncton midfielder Xavié Fournier played a great ball to teammate Philippe Gallant, who was able to beat Davis and tie the match at 1-1, which would go down as the halftime score.

Early in the second half, the hosts would take the lead with Philippe Gallant played a nice ball onto the foot of a charging Soumaila Mohamed Dagnoko, who beat Davis to the right corner to put the Aigles Bleus ahead 2-1 in the 53^rd minute.

The Huskies had several chances to equalize but weren't able to capitalize - until Colby Mercer took over the match. In the 80th minute, Huskies first year midfielder Jake Wilcox (Halifax, NS) fired a long shot that didn't make it to goal, but found the foot of Mercer in the box, where he was able to settle it down and poke it past Soan Janssen to tie the match at 2-2.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️

Colby Mercer does it again! His second goal of the night and fourth of the season ties the match at 2-2 in the 80th minute! pic.twitter.com/ozn2vyJbT3

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) September 13, 2024

It appeared the teams were heading for a draw until Mercer struck again in the 86th minute. The Huskies forward intercepted an Aigles Bleus pass and played it to teammate Callum Corkum, who immediately played it back to a sprinting Mercer. With a defender on his back, Mercer cut back inside, and while falling to the turf, fired a picture perfect shot into the bottom right corner to give Saint Mary's a 3-2 victory.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ⚽️

COLBY MERCER YOU LEGEND!!!!

A hat-trick for the leading scorer in the @AUS_SUA puts the Huskies ahead 3-2 in the 86th minute! pic.twitter.com/XmLKOvOkkW

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) September 13, 2024

Mercer was named Player of the Match, and now leads AUS men's soccer in scoring with five goals and an assist - all of which have come in the last three games.

The Huskies third straight win improves their record to 3-2-0 on the campaign. They'll continue their road swing on Saturday, visiting the UNB REDS (1-2-1) at 5:15 p.m. in Fredericton, N.B.

The Aigles Bleus loss snaps a two-game win streak and drops their record to 2-1-2 on the season. Moncton will also take on the UNB REDS next, Sunday at 3:15 p.m. in Fredericton.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics