REDS Look To Take Next Step
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS are hoping to take one more step at the 2025 Atlantic University Sport men’s soccer championship.
One more step than they took at last year’s conference championship tournament.
In 2024, the REDS were tournament hosts and seeded sixth among the six competing teams.
They upset No. 3 Saint Mary’s in the quarter-finals, and No. 2 Memorial in the semi-finals before losing, in double-overtime, to top-ranked STFX.
“Coming off a season where we saw what it takes to play in the AUS Final has definitely brought a level of maturity and a new standard to the group,” said veteran midfielder Stefano D’Ambrogio.
In his fifth season as a RED, D’Ambrogio believes last year’s playoff run set the stage for what the team has done in 2025.
“We’ve progressed as the season went on,” he said. “We’ve gone deeper into our identity with every game. I think that the relentless mentality of this group is one that we can lean into and use to push us forward and deep into playoffs.”
After posting a 7-4-1 (W-L-T) record, the REDS are the fifth seed heading into the 2025 conference championship tournament, at STFX.
UNB will face No. 4 Moncton, a team they lost 3-1 to last Friday in their regular season finale.
That game is scheduled for a 1:00pm start on Thursday, in Antigonish.
“Last week was a bit of a slip-up,” admits fourth-year REDS midfielder Alex Oprea. “Maybe it was what we needed to re-focus and lock in for this weekend.”
Moncton finished with an identical 7-4-1 record this season. They scored more goals than the REDS, but also allowed more goals than UNB.
“We’ve got a good feeling heading into the playoffs,” said Oprea. “We know we’re the underdogs, but that’s where we thrive. Everyone on this team believes in each other. We’re fighters and we don’t quit.”
Oprea was one of two REDS to finish among the statistical leaders in the AUS. His six assists led the conference and were third most in U SPORTS (4-way tie). Second-year striker Hunter Delahunt’s eight goals were good for part of a three-way tie for the league’s scoring title. Delahunt had nine point, tied for second best in the conference.
“Moncton has a strong, powerful team, and they are difficult to play against,” said REDS’ head coach Barry Morrison. “For us to find success against Moncton we will need to be focused on details and ensuring we’re organized to manage their speed when they gain possession. For us, winning the battles for loose balls will be a major key to us being able to sustain the pressure we need to win the game.”
Despite dropping their final regular season game, the REDS were winners of three of their last four.
“Playing Moncton again in a six-day turnaround from last Friday is not an easy task, but I think we’ve used the week to learn from our mistakes and we’re ready, we’re buzzing,” said D’Ambrogio.
“We’ve performed great all season and we’re confident heading into the match-up against Moncton,” echoed Oprea. “We’re ready to battle.”
The winner of the UNB-Moncton quarter-final will face top-ranked Cape Breton in Friday’s semi-finals. That game is scheduled for 1:00pm.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS
FILE PHOTO BY: Fran Harris/for UNB REDS