UNB takes game one of best of five semi series

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Varsity Reds scored three second period goals in a 5-1 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Thursday, taking a one game to none lead in their best of five Subway AUS semi-final series.

Francis Beauvillier (St. Hyacinthe, QC) scored twice to lead the Varsity Reds, while Philippe Halley (Quebec City, QC) added a goal and an assist and Randy Gazzola (Thorold, ON) had two assists.

Francis Menard (Embrun, ON) scored the Huskies lone goal.

Less than two minutes into the second period, Caissy scored a goal that many will remember for some time.

He took the puck on a turnover at the SMU blue line, split the Huskies' defence, then slid the puck through his legs before lifting it up and over netminder Eric Brassard (St. Hubert, QC).

Beauvillier, with his second, and Cam Braes (Shawnigan Lake, BC) scored less than three minutes apart to give UNB a 5-0 lead.

Menard would score before the end of the second, and the 5-1 score stood through the end of the game.

"We had nothing, we had absolutely nothing, and all we did was spoon-feed them confidence," said a frustrated Huskies head coach Trevor Stienburg. "I thought we came back and had a little bit better second, but when you're trying to stop that team and get your confidence back with a depleted line-up, it's not going to happen very easily."

The Huskies iced only 16 skaters. They finished the game with just 13.

"I have to have them ready and frothing at the bit, and maybe I didn't get my job done tonight," said Stienburg.

Despite the lopsided score, the Varsity Reds know the Huskies can be dangerous. "We know they have a good team, they beat us twice during the regular season," said Beauvillier. "We knew we had to come out strong and that's what we did."

Etienne Marcoux(Terrebonne, QC) stopped 13 of the 14 shots he faced to earn the win for UNB.

Brassard stopped 35 of the 40 he saw in the Saint Mary's net.

The best of five series continues Friday, in Fredericton.  Game two goes at 7:00pm, at UNB's Aitken Centre.

The series will shift to Halifax, for game three and, if necessary, game four.

RECAP AND PHOTOS BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics