(ST. JOHN'S, NFLD.) - The top-seeded UNB Varsity Reds punched their ticket to the final of the Subway AUS men's soccer championship Saturday at King George V Park, beating the Memorial Sea-Hawks 5-0 in semifinal action.
The goal scoring started early, with UNB striker Oliver Jones (London, U.K.) putting one past Memorial keeper Andrew Anson (Ottawa, Ont.) in the 11th minute. Second-year midfielder Marcus Lee (Barrie, Ont.) gave the Varsity Reds some added insurance just two minutes later with an unassisted goal.
When the clock hit 28 minutes, it was midfielder Victor Karosan (Fredericton, N.B.) that set one up for third-year George Lawton (Bolton, U.K.) who found the back of the net for the Varsity Reds, putting the team's tally at three.
Memorial's Jordi Slaney (St. Lawrence, Nfld.) had a chance to tie it up before the end of the half with a breakaway up the left side of the field, but his attempt in the 42nd minute was halted by UNB keeper Aaron McMurray (London, U.K.).
Going into the half the Varsity reds were up 3-0 over the Sea-Hawks.
Memorial had two more opportunities to put themselves on the board in the first five minutes of the second half. Aaron Anstey's (St. John's, Nfld.) shot in the 51st minute was shut down by McMurray, and Carter Mackey's (St. John's, Nfld.) attempt was just wide of the net two minutes later.
Jones netted his second of the game in the 57th minute to put UNB up by four.
Robert Park (Glasgow, U.K.) continued the scoring trend for the Varsity Reds half way through the second.
Anstey and defence Greg Reid (St. John's, Nfld.) did their best to keep the Sea-Hawks in the game in the last few minutes of the game, making an attempt each at key moments. However, their efforts were not enough and the host and sixth-seeded Sea-Hawks walked away empty handed.
UNB keeper McMurray recorded five saves for his squad. Today's game saw the Varsity Reds maintain their undefeated streak going into the championship final.
With the win, UNB advances to take on the second-seeded Cape Breton Capers in the final of the 2014 Subway AUS men's soccer championship Sunday at 2 p.m.
Source: Memorial Sports Information