Tigers AUS championship hopes dashed by Axemen

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia's Matthew Berrigan (Halifax, N.S.) was the hometown hero in the second quarterfinal matchup between the No. 6 seeded Dalhousie Tigers and the host No. 3 seeded Acadia Axemen.

Berrigan's penalty kick goal at the 78th minute ensured the Axemen would advance to the semi-finals after handing the Tigers a 2-0 loss in front of 718 hometown fans.

The Axemen kept a high pace offensive threat throughout the game, taking 17 shots and landing 10 on goal. Tigers Keeper Jason Ross (Bedford, N.S.) gathered 8 saves while Acadia's Nigel Goodwin (Milton, Ont.) was tested on 1 save.

After a scoreless first half, Acadia scored on an own goal five minutes into the second half with the point awarded to Berrigan who was the last to touch the ball before deflecting off of a Tiger defender.

Berrigan, who was named the Subway Player of the Game, was given the opportunity to score his own on a 78th minute penalty kick.

"Oh it killed me, especially with the extra time - down time, but I just tried to stay calm and it goes from there", remarked third year Acadia striker Matthew Berrigan when asked how he felt prior to his penalty kick goal that gave Acadia the 2-0 lead.

Berrigan credited his defending and midfield teammates for the win. "Our back line play was astonishing. (Andrew) Snyder (Bridgetown, N.S.) held it down and Ya Ya (Ryan Parris – Hamilton, Bermuda) and (Spencer) Buck (Quisspamsis, N.B.) controlled the middle."

Fifth year defender Mark Hagen collected the Subway Player of the Game award for Dalhousie.

The Axemen will face the UNB Varsity Reds in Friday night's semi-final game at 7:15 p.m. Acadia and the No. 2 seeded Varsity Reds posted a 1-1 draw in Acadia's second last game of the regular season at home last week.