Written by Thomas Scott

The Dalhousie University Tigers defeated the St. Francis Xavier University X-Men 4-2 on Wednesday night at the Halifax Forum.

Josh Nelson (Lockport, IL) got it started early for the X-Men 2:29 minutes into the game off a goal assisted by Jacob Stewart (Antigonish, NS), beating the Tigers goaltender blocker-side.

13:40 minutes into the first, the Tigers found an equalizer from Alec Belanger (Quebec, PQ) off a cross-crease pass from Derek Gentille (Sydney, NS). Shaun Miller (Enfield, NS) had the secondary assist on the play.

Jarrett Baker (Black Rock, NS) pulled the Tigers ahead with 2:44 left in the first period, placing the puck in the top left corner. The goal was assisted by Dawson Stairs (Fredericton, NS) and Josh Wainman (Peterborough, ON)

The Tigers added to the lead in the second period, scoring a third goal 15:55 minutes into the frame on the powerplay. Gentille scored his second goal of the season off a pass from Joseph Serpa (Cambridge, ON).

Belanger scored his second goal of the night for the Tigers on a breakaway while shorthanded. It was another rocket, placing the puck top-right to give Dal a 4-1 lead.

It was 4-1 going into the third period for the Tigers, with the shots in its favour 26-24.

StFX took a step closer to coming back in the third period as Raegan Wiles (Calgary, AB) scored to make it 4-2 with a wrist shot from the point.

However, it would not be enough as with 1:17 left, Tigers goalie Nicholas Chenard (Tecumseh, ON) made a sprawling save. The keeper made 39 saves on the night.

Gentille finished with 3 points for the Tigers, leading all skaters. Belanger took home the player of the game for the Tigers.

X-Men goalie Lucas Pfeil (Owen Sound, ON) made 27 saves in the loss.

The Tigers improve to 2-3 on the season as the X-Men now hold a 1-4 record.

The Tigers next play Friday at 7pm, facing off against the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers.

The X-Men next play at the University of Prince Edward Island on Saturday, facing the Panthers at 7pm.