Axemen win hard-fought 4-3 game over X-Men

McCarty scores the winner for Acadia

Antigonish, NS – TheΒ U SPORTS No. 10 ranked AcadiaΒ AxemenΒ skated to a close 4-3 victory over the StFX X-Men Friday night at the StFX Keating Centre. The teamsΒ didn’tΒ disappoint the 800 fans in attendance as it was a hard-fought, close game down to the final whistle.Β 

The X-Men opened the scoring early on a power play marker from defenseman Santino Centorame (Mississauga, ON) as he picked up a nice cross-ice pass from Bryson Cianfrone (Stoney Creek, ON) and deposited it past LoganΒ FlodellΒ (Regina, SK) in the Acadia net 2:19 into the first period.Β 

TheΒ AxemenΒ evened it up five minutes later when LiamΒ MaaskantΒ (Clinton, ON) scored an unassisted goal off a screen shot. He followed up on his own rebound off a point shot that JosephΒ RaaymakersΒ (Chatham, ON) made the initial save but the X-MenΒ couldn’tΒ clear the rebound.Β 

Both teams saw time in the penalty box in a scrappy first period. X-Men forward AnthonyΒ DifrusciaΒ (Thorold, ON) left the iceΒ after a hard hit but returned before the period was over.Β 

Regan Spears (Port Hood, NS) had a good scoring chance at the end of an X-Men power play but his shot on net missed wide.Β 

On an ensuingΒ AxemenΒ powerΒ playΒ the visitorsΒ fired some shots on goal but could not solveΒ Raaymakers.Β 

Declan Smith (Antigonish, NS) almost capitalized on a miscued clearing attempt byΒ FlodellΒ but his shot was blocked by anΒ AxemenΒ defender.Β 

The 1-1 score held up after 20 minutes as the X-Men outshot theΒ AxemenΒ 11-6 in the first.Β Β 

Acadia took a 2-1 lead just over a minute into the second period on aΒ Garrett McFadden (Kincardine, ON) goal. He took aΒ Mason McCarty (Blackie, AB)Β pass and rushed up ice, past the X defenderΒ and pushed the puck in pastΒ Raaymakers.Β Β 

StFX tied it back up at 4:23 when Adam Laishram (Ashburn, ON)Β took a pass from Bailey Webster (Kensington, PE)Β andΒ roofed aΒ backhandedΒ shotΒ over the shoulder ofΒ Flodell.Β 

The teams settled in and played a more disciplined second period. The X-Men did have a power play chance but were unable to capitalize.Β 

McCarty continued his strong playΒ for Acadia and was rewarded with a goalΒ midway through the frameΒ as theΒ AxemenΒ took a 3-2Β lead.Β After continued pressure on the X goal,Β McCarty scooped up a rebound in front and deposited it pastΒ Raaymakers.Β 

The X-Men fought back however and tied it up with 1:25 left in the period as Daniel Robertson (Windsor, ON) whistled a shotΒ from the pointΒ pastΒ Flodell. Cianfrone picked up his second helper of the night on the goal and Mark Tremaine (Dartmouth, NS) alsoΒ assisted.Β 

Shots againΒ favouredΒ the X-Men in the second period at 13-9 as the teams headed into the third period knotted at 3-3.Β 

Play got physical early in the period and theΒ AxemenΒ found themselves on a 4-on-3 advantage for 1:20 but the X-Men penalty kill held them off.Β 

StFX had several chances to score on a power play midway through the period butΒ FlodellΒ stood tall in theΒ AxemenΒ net and kept them off the scoresheet.Β At the tail end of the man advantage, Jeremiah Addison (Etibicoke, ON) deflected a shot on goal that missed the Acadia net by mere centimeters for a chance to put the X-Men ahead.Β Β 

It was the visitingΒ AxemenΒ who would score next as Owen MacDonald (Elora, ON) tallied at 11:32. McFadden had the initial shot on net and MacDonald was on the doorstep in the X crease to shovel in the rebound.Β 

The X-Men then fought off a power play right after the goal afterΒ RaaymakersΒ was calledΒ for roughing.Β Β 

With sixΒ minutesΒ left in the game the blue and white were pressuring to once again score an equalizing goal. They went on the power play with 5:21 left but theΒ AxemenΒ penalty kill unit andΒ FlodellΒ came up big to stop all X chances.Β 

The X-Men pulledΒ RaaymakersΒ with a minute in the game but struggled to keep the puckΒ in theΒ AxemenΒ zone. After a timeout and a reset the X-Men stillΒ couldn’tΒ score and time ran out as MacDonald’s goal held up as the game winner for Acadia.Β 

Final shotsΒ favouredΒ the X-Men at 39-32. StFX defenseman Bailey Webster earned third starΒ honoursΒ whileΒ his teammate Daniel Robertson – also aΒ bluelinerΒ –Β was second star.Β 

Acadia forward Mason McCarty was the first star and Subway player of the game with a goal and an assist.Β 

With the win, theΒ AxemenΒ improve to 10-3-0Β on the season and remainΒ tied for first place in AUSΒ standings with UNB. StFX (6-6-2)Β are in fifth place but only six points back in a tight conference.Β 

They next see action on Friday, NovemberΒ 22ndΒ when they travel to Moncton (6-5-3) to face-off against theΒ AiglesΒ Bleues.Β Β 

TheΒ AxemenΒ will be back in action Saturday night as they head to Halifax to take on the Dalhousie Tigers (2-9-2). Puck drop is 7:00 pm at the Halifax Forum.Β 

-30-Β 

Recap courtesy Krista McKenna, StFX Sports InformationΒ