(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - A highly anticipated match up was set as the CIS No. 3-ranked UNB Varsity Reds visited the CIS No. 4-ranked Acadia Axemen in Wolfville.
With over 1,700 in attendance for the Saturday night match up at the Acadia Arena, the game was one of the more physical is games of the year, including numerous penalties on both sides, totaling a combined 72 minutes.
Third-year Acadia forward Joel Ridgeway opened the scoring 13 minutes into the game. He would later be named the game's Subway third star. Acadia would hold onto the 1-0 lead into the locker room.
UNB's Tyler Carroll opened the second period with a power play goal at the 3:10 mark to tie the game at one apiece. Teammate Marc-Antoine Desnoyers took the initial shot and Carroll got the rebound to cross the line and count for the V-Reds first and only goal.
Axeman Mike Cazzola netted the eventual game winner with just under four minutes remaining in the second frame to give Acadia a 2-1 lead. Cazzola wristed a shot past UNB netminder Charles Lavigne for his fourth goal of the season.
Second-year Acadia forward Dylan Anderson scored a shorthanded goal early in the third by first intercepting the puck, then coming in on a two-on-one with Liam Heelis. Deciding to keep the puck to himself, Anderson cut across from the forehand to backhand, sliding the puck underneath the arm of Lavigne.
Assistant captain Colin Archer scored the insurance goal, putting Acadia up 4-1 late in the third. Archer was named the game's second star for his goal.
With just over five minutes remaining in the game, senior Chris Owens hammered the nail in the coffin with his seventh goal of the season to give the Axemen a 5-1 win over the UNB Varsity Reds.
Acadia's Evan Mosher improves to 9-1-0 on the season, making 27 saves in the win over the Varsity Reds. Dylan Anderson received the game's first star award.
The Axemen out-shot UNB by 15 in a 43-28 advantage and were good on two of five powerplay opportunities, while UNB was one-for-four on the man advantage.
With exams and the holiday break, the Axemen will have a four-week rest before hosting an exhibition game against Guelph Gryphons for a New Year's Eve daytime game starting at 1 p.m.
The Varsity Reds will remain home over the holidays, jumping back into action in exhibition play on Sunday, Dec. 29 against the St. Thomas Tommies at the Pete Kelly Challenge. The next time both teams meet again is Friday, Jan. 17 in Fredericton.
With the 5-1 victory, Acadia now claims sole possession of first place in the AUS standings with 24 points (11-1-2), one more than reigning national champion UNB (11-2-1).
Source: Acadia Sports Information