Axemen survive late rally to beat Panthers 8-5 and end losing streak

Digiacinto with 3 goals, 1 assist in Acadia win

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – The AcadiaΒ AxemenΒ picked up a valuable win despite a strong UPEI Panthers comeback on Friday.β€―β€―

Acadia (18-7-1) did most of their work in the first period and carried a 5-1 lead into the intermission, but had to fight off a strong second and third period from UPEI (8-13-3).Β 

This loss continues UPEI’s four-game losing streak as their discipline haunted them throughout the game.Β 

A UPEI turnover in front of their own net led to an early Acadia goal by Johnny Corneil; Cristiano Digiacinto and Jordy StallardΒ assisted with 15:51 remaining.Β 

Five minutes later, Acadia’s Owen MacDonald scored on a rebound from a MaurizioΒ ColellaΒ shot on theΒ powerplay.Β 

Acadia scored again less than 30 seconds later as the Subway Player of the GameΒ CristianoΒ DigiacintoΒ scored his first of the evening.Β 

UPEI called a timeout in the first period in hopes of turning the tides.Β 

The Panthers finally answered back with a five-on-threeΒ powerplayΒ goal fromΒ pointsΒ leaderΒ KameronΒ Kielly, with KyleΒ MaksimovichΒ picking up his first assist of the game.Β 

Penalties continued to hurt the Panthers late in the first, asΒ DigiacintoΒ scored his second of the night on a five-on-three power play.Β 

Acadia’sΒ powerplayΒ was not done eitherΒ ColellaΒ scored on the man advantage with 20 seconds remaining. Owen MacDonald picked up his second point of the game with an assist on the goal.Β 

Shots at the end of the first period were 16-6 for Acadia.Β 

The Panthers came out strong in the second period and with 16:23 remaining DrakeΒ PhilonΒ scored a short-handed goal off of a strange bounce.Β 

Just over five minutes later the Panthers pulled within two after a pass from ConnorΒ MacEachernΒ found Jordan Maher alone in front and he buried it. Shots were 25-16 for Acadia at the end of the second.β€―Β 

UPEI’s perseverance early in the third paid off asΒ FilipΒ RydstromΒ scored his 11th goal of the season on a scramble for a loose puck.Β KiellyΒ andΒ MaksimovichΒ assisted on the play.Β 

Two minutes laterΒ RydstromΒ scored again withΒ MakismovichΒ picking up his third assist of the game.β€―Β 

Acadia pulled ahead once more with five minutes remaining in the third off of a goal from Mason McCarty.β€―Β 

TheΒ AxemenΒ would go on to score two empty-netΒ goals,Β one from Owen MacDonald and with the otherΒ CristianoΒ DigiacintoΒ to finished his hat-trick.β€―Β 

Acadia’s LoganΒ FlodellΒ saved 23 of 28 shots in the win, while UPEI’s Simon Hefley saved 27 of 35 in the loss.Β 

The Panthers are back in action at home Jan. 25 against Saint Mary’s, while the Axemen host U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB next Friday at the #Road2UCup Starts Here Launch.

By BenΒ MacIntosh, UPEI Athletics Communications