Moncton downs Acadia 4-1, Game 4 Sunday Night

Moncton Stays Alive With Home Ice Win

photo_2015046_resize_articleThe University of Moncton Aigles Bleus came into Game 3 of the AUS semi-final down 2-0 to the Acadia Axemen.  A loss would end Moncton’s season and send the Axemen to the next round.

Moncton had other ideas.  They struck first, 21 seconds into the game, repeating a trend that echoed through the first two games of the series.  In all three games, Moncton had opened the scoring, albeit in a losing cause…the most crushing being a 4-0 lead that dissolved before their eyes into a 6-5 overtime loss.

After Samuel Groulx opened the scoring for the Aigles Bleus, Mike Cazzola of Acadia answered back less than three minutes later.  He scored on a 5 on 3 power play, tying the game.  The two teams then settled back into a defensive holding pattern, giving no ice and making their opponents fight for every inch gained.  There were very little scoring chances exchanged in the first two periods, the shot clock showing Acadia holding an edge in shots 16-14 after the first two periods.  Goalies Evan Mosher of Acadia and Adrien Lemay of Moncton had to stay sharp with such little action, and they did, holding their teams in.

Something had to give.

The tight defensive chess game between the two teams suddenly gave way in a big hurry.  Moncton struck three times in short succession, starting with Simon Belliveau’s solo dash into the Axemen end.  He undressed his defender and then faked Mosher, depositing the puck behind the Acadia goalie in a spectacular effort.  Just over six minutes after that, Alex Emond found the back of the net.  Just over a minute later, Moncton’s barrage ended with Alex Noel’s tally.  Three goals in just over seven minutes sent the Axemen reeling, and Moncton proved they would not go quietly into the night.  They clamped down defensively in the remaining minutes of the third, suffocating the Axemen forwards and Lemay did the rest, snuffing out what little did come his way.  There would be no miracle comeback this time.

Samuel Groulx, Simon Belliveau, Alex Emond, and Alex Noel scored for Moncton.  Adrien Lemay turned back 22 of 23 shots for the win.

Mike Cazzola scored Acadia’s only goal.  Evan Mosher turned aside 17 of 21 shots.

Game 4 is slated for 7:00pm on March 2 in Moncton.  You can follow live on AVR at 97.7 FM, or watch the game at www.austv.ca.  You can also follow along for in game updates on Twitter at @axemenhockey or @OpeningFaceoff .