(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - After losing to the winless StFX X-Men on Wednesday, the CIS No. 3-ranked Acadia Axemen bounced back with a 4-3 overtime win against the CIS No. 2-ranked UNB Varsity Reds in front of over 1,600 fans on the second weekend of the AUS regular season.
A chippy first period had both teams on edge posting a combined 10 penalties in 20 minutes of play. UNB struck first on the man-advantage 16 minutes into the opening period when Peter Trainor caught the back of the net for his first of a two-goal night.
The Axemen tied the game at one on a power play goal with a minute and a half remaining in the first frame when Liam Heelis scored his third goal of the regular season.
Outshooting the V-reds 8-7 in the first, the second period was opened with two Axemen goals by Michael Clarke at 2:15 first-year forward Sam Fioretti in the closing five minutes to give Acadia a 3-1 lead at 15:18.
An errant pass then ricocheted off an Acadia defender's skate and past Axemen goaltender Brandon Glover. The goal was credited to Trainor.
The Axemen took a 3-2 lead into the third, outshooting UNB 15-12 in the second. Glover rose to the occasion throughout the final period, keeping the momentum in Acadia's favor.
With 1:03 remaining in the third, V-Red Matt Petgrave scored the tying goal to put the game into extra time. Rookie defenceman Matthew Pufahl fired a wrist shot from the top of the left circle over David Shantz' glove hand to end the overtime period with only 1:43 off of the clock.
Shots on goal were a dead-even 32 for all three frames and the overtime period. UNB out-shot Acadia only in the third - 13-8. Each team posted eight penalties a piece. The Axemen were 1-6 on the power play, while UNB was 2-7.
The Axemen remain home to host the Moncton Aigles Bleus on Saturday night at 7 p.m. while the Varsity Reds head to Halifax to take on the Saint Mary's Huskies at the same time.
Source: Acadia Sports Information