The streak continues with a 2-1 win over SMU

Gaynor leads Axemen in win over Saint Mary’s with two goals

story courtesy of hockey.acadiau.ca 01/11/2013 11:31 pm

 

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Veteran forward and the Subway First Star of the Game, Joe Gaynor, scored both of the Axemen’s goals, which was enough to defeat the defending AUS champion Saint Mary’s Huskies 2-1. Evan Mosher stopped 26 shots and was named the third star in the victory.

The CIS No. 8 ranked Axemen have now won 4 straight games, improving to 5-1-0 on the season.

The Axemen opened the scoring in the first, with Joe Gaynor as the recipient of a beautiful end-to-end rush by second year forward Dylan Anderson, sliding a pass across crease for a wide-open cage. The entire period was dominated by the Axemen outshooting their opponents a lopsided 20-5.

The Huskies came out strong in the second, taking the period’s handful of shots, but Acadia settled down behind the line of Joe Gaynor, Dustin Ekelman and Dylan Anderson. Gaynor scored his second of the game and third of the season, banking in Ekelman’s rebound, to put Acadia up 2-0 with 2 minutes remaining in the period.

The third period was an even-matched battle between both teams, offering exciting end-to-end hockey. The period’s only goal was a strange one, which was awarded to Huskie defenseman Michael D’Orazio. After it was initially called no goal on the ice, the linesmen and referees came together and reversed the ruling, calling it a good goal, bringing the Huskies within one near the end of the final frame, but it wasn’t enough, as the Acadia Axemen held on for the 2-1 win.

Despite goaltender Curtis Black’s heroics and second star of the game award, the struggling Huskies fall to 1-4-0 on the year under interim head coach Tyler Naugler.

Acadia Head Coach Darren Burns pointed out that tonight’s win was due to his team’s consistent play. “Our guys played a complete game tonight. I thought we worked very hard and showed good composure when the game got tight”.

Acadia’s next home game is in three weeks on November 20 when they host the StFX X-Men, in the meantime the Axemen have the remainder of the weekend off and will head to Halifax next Thursday to hook up with the Huskies for a second meeting in less than a week.

Following next weekend’s rest due to the FISU team tryout and All-Star game, the Axemen will have their toughest challenge to date against the undefeated UNB varsity Reds in Fredericton followed by a visit to Moncton on Saturday November 16.

Submitted by Mitch Racine, Acadia Sports Information