Axemen dropped by visiting Panthers
Axemen split opening weekend of AUS season
story courtesy of acadiau.ca on 20/10/2013 10:53 pm
WOLFVILLE, N.S – The second Homecoming game of 2013 saw the UPEI Panthers squaring off against the Acadia Axemen in a rare Sunday afternoon matchup.
The game started off with a jersey retirement ceremony for #6 Connie MacNeil – only the second jersey to be put in the rafters beside #22 Powell. MacNeil played from 1949 to 1953 and was a great ambassador for the Axemen throughout his years in the local community.
Chris Owens scored two power play goals and was named the games second star in the losing effort, as the UPEI Panthers defeated the Acadia Axemen with a final score of 4-2.
Today’s game, like the previous, saw domination by the visiting team in the opening frame. Colin Beck opened the scoring early, putting a weak snap shot through the legs of rookie goalie Brandon Glover on the games first shot.
Reginaldo Traccitto would make it 2-0 in the first at 4:25, scoring on a creative passing play on the power play. The Panthers lead would grow to 3-0 just five and a half minutes later, when Alex Wall beat Glover on a wrap around goal traveling high on the short side.
The Panthers dominant play continued at the start of the second period on a Chris Desousa goal at 1:43 on a 2-on-1 break. Glover was replaced by third year goaltender Evan Mosher, who stopped all 21 shots fired at him, including 2 breakaways, a penalty shot, and a 2-on-1 break.
With less than three minutes remaining in the second frame, Chris Owens netted his first goal of the season on a slap shot from the top of the slot, on the man advantage.
The third period was a back and forth battle between the two teams. Owens scored the only goal of the final frame, nearly replicating his first of the game, again on the power play.
Unfortunately it wasn’t enough as Acadia struggled to find the back of the net in this match up.
The 3 stars of the game were awarded to, Alex Wall who had a goal and a assist; Chris Owens who had two goals, and Panther goalie Mavric Parks who stopped 50 shots, respectively.
The Axemen are off until Friday, when they’ll visit the St. Thomas Tommies for a rematch of the season opener.