(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The CIS No. 3-ranked Acadia Axemen opened up the AUS semifinal best 3-of-5 series with a 5-2 win over the CIS No. 9-ranked Moncton Aigles Bleus following a bye week earned from placing second in the AUS final standings.
The two teams split their four regular season games against one another. Tonight's game was the third postseason game for the Aigles Bleus after sweeping StFX in the best 2-of-3 quarterfinal series.
Acadia looked well rested and netminder Evan Mosher had an outstanding game, making numerous saves including three big ones when the game was at 3-2. Mosher stopped 27 of 29 Moncton shots, earning the Subway Third Star of the Game.
Acadia captain Liam Heelis scored a goal and added three assists. He was named Subway First Star of the Game after not playing in the two last games of the regular season.
The Aigles Bleus scored only 22 seconds into the opening period on a solid pass by Eric Faille and a perfect finish by Christopher Guay going high far glove hand side of Mosher.
At the seven minute mark, Acadia connected on a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal, giving Mike Cazzola the equalizing goal on the power-play, finishing the play on the forehand just over the pad of Moncton's Adrien Lemay.
The second period started off with a bang, creating lots of opportunities from the get-go. The Axemen took their first lead two minutes into the second period when Brett Thompson scored from behind the net. On an extra effort play, Thompson banked in his first of the playoffs off of Lemay from below the goalline.
Senior defenceman Leo Jenner scored the eventual game winner on an innocent wrist shot from the point to give Acadia a 3-1 lead. However, just as Acadia's hooking penalty ended three minutes after Jenner's goal, Pierre Durepos closed the lead to one when he beat Mosher high on the glove hand.
Acadia never looked back in the third frame, starting with a power-play tally from forward Dustin Ekelman. He banked in a rebound off of his own tip just outside the crease. This goal was scored after a dominant man-advantage by Acadia's first unit.
Liam Heelis scored the insurance goal a minute and forty after Ekelman's goal. Heelis went to the backhand and scored on the blocker side to give Acadia the 5-2 win over Moncton. Linemate Brett Thompson started the play by dropping it off to Heelis who faked the forehand and went backhand beating Lemay under the arm.
Lemay made 30 saves in the losing effort. Moncton and Acadia will return to the Acadia Arena tomorrow night for Game 2 of the best 3-of-5 AUS semifinal series. The series will head to Moncton for Game 3 and, if needed, Game 4 on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Source: Mitchell Racine for Acadia Sports Information