Axemen fall to UNB in season opener

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The visiting UNB Reds improved to 2-0 on the back of forward Grant Takacs' two goal performance with a win over the host Acadia Axemen in Wolfville.

Takacs sent the ball to the back of the net twice in the Reds win over the Axemen, grabbing the AUS Subway Player of the Game honours.

Acadia's Adrian Deveau was awarded a red card at the 24^th minute and the Axemen played shorthanded for the remaining 66 minutes

The first goal and eventual game winner came at the 23 minute mark of the opening half, unassisted. Takacs netted his second at the 76^th minute.

UNB outshot the Axemen 15-7 and controlled the ball in the Acadia's end for most of the match.

"Our team worked hard together and for each other from the field and from the bench and it paid off today again. The Acadia team is a really strong team and it's unfortunate they got a red card in the first half, giving us a mad advantage. Particularly in the first half they put us on our heels, but we rallied the troops to get back on the front foot and finished things off", said second year UNB head coach Barry Morrison.

"Like everybody, we have a really young team. This weekend we had 10 players get on their first game sheet and 8 play their first AUS minutes," added Morrison.

First year Acadia forward Jabu Deng was named the Axemen's player of the game for his effort. Louis-Charles Vaillancourt picked up the win for the Reds in the net, while first year keeper Michael O'Flynn settled for the loss.

The Reds will host 2019 AUS Champs Cape Breton on Saturday and then take on StFX on Sunday. The Axemen travel to Mount Allison next Friday and then on the Island to visit UPEI on Saturday.