Acadia defeat X-Men in close 2-1 game

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - The CIS No. 3-ranked Acadia Axemen held on for a 2-1 victory over the StFX X-Men in a close game Saturday evening at the Keating Centre.

Travis Randell's goal 2:33 into the second period would hold up as the game winner for the Axemen, who improved their record atop at the AUS standings at 15-1-2.

The game marked the third consecutive game this season the Axemen and X-Men have played to a one-goal margin. They each exchanged home ice victories in overtime in their previous two encounters.

Axemen forward Michael Clarke opened the scoring at 14:50 of the first period just after an Axemen power-play opportunity had expired. His wrist shot beat StFX netminder Drew Owsley. Joe Gaynor and Dylan Anderson assisted on the play.

Randell gave the Axemen a 2-0 advantage with his second period goal. He skated in on the right side with a quick shot that beat Owsley over the left shoulder. K.C. Brown and Leo Jenner had the helpers.

The Axemen played disciplined hockey, not giving up a power-play chance to the X-Men until late in the second period. StFX capitalized on that man-advantage as forward Jarrad Struthers tipped in a Josh Day shot from the point to beat Axemen goalie Evan Mosher. Spencer McAvoy also had an assist on the goal.

Shots were 15-14 in favor of the X-Men after two periods of play.

The third period saw a lot of fighting for puck control and neutral zone play as the X-Men outshot the Axemen 8-6 but could not score the equalizer.

StFX had a power-play chance with just over two minutes to play, and increased that advantage to 6-on-4 after pulling Owsley with 1:07 left on the clock, but Mosher and the Axemen held on for the victory.

With 22 saves on goal Mosher was named the Subway Player of the Game.

Owsley had 18 saves in the X-Men net as they dropped to 9-8-1 but remain in third place in the AUS standings.

Next on the schedule for the X-Men is an exhibition game south of the border as they travel to Orono, Maine on Tuesday, Jan. 14 to play the University of Maine Black Bears. They will resume AUS regular season action on Jan. 17 and 18 as they host UPEI and St. Thomas at home at the Keating Centre.

The Axemen next take to the ice Wednesday, Jan. 17 when they visit the AUS second place UNB Varsity Reds.

Source: StFX Sports Information