Moncton stays alive with 4-1 win over Hockey Axemen

MONCTON, N.B. - The 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 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.  Cazzola 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.

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 and over a minute later, Moncton's barrage ended with Alex Noel's tally.  Three goals in just over seven minutes sent the Axemen reeling. Moncton 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. 

Adrien Lemay turned back 22 of 23 shots for the win,  while Evan Mosher turned aside 17 of 21 shots.

Game four of the best of seven series is slated for 7:00 pm on Sunday, March 2 in Moncton.  You can follow live on AVR at 97.7 FM, or watch the game at www.austv.ca.  You can follow contributing writer Justin Halbersma twitter feed at @OpeningFaceoff

Submitted by Justin Halbersma