Battle of U Sports ranked teams ends in Axemen loss

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – It was a battle between first and second placed teams in the AUS standings in Wolfville on Saturday night, as the U Sports No. 1 UNB Varsity Reds (17-2-3) defeated the U Sports No. 4 ranked Acadia Axemen (14-7-1), by a score of 6-1. Although Acadia jumped out to an early first period lead, UNB scored six unanswered goals to rebound from an overtime win against Saint Mary's in Friday night's matchup in Halifax.

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Acadia scored on their first shot of the game when forward Boston Leier (Saskatoon, Sask.) skated through three UNB defenders before going 1-on-1 with Reds goalie Etienne Marcoux (Terrebonne, Que.). Leier faked to go forehand, then moved to his backhand and lifted it over the right pad of Marcoux to ignite the home crowd of 2015 and put Acadia up 1-0.

UNB struck back less than two minutes later with a goal from senior forward Mike Thomas (New Maryland, Nfld.), who picked up a rebound in tight on Acadia goalie Robert Steeves (Moncton, N.B.) and swatted the puck over top of Steeves' left shoulder to tie the game at one.

UNB took the lead just over half way through the first, when V-Reds defenseman Randy Gazzola (Thorhold, Ont.) came late into the offensive play and fired a wrist shot from the point, beating a screened Steeves, to give UNB their first lead of the game and a 16-4 shots on net advantage.

UNB began to pull away from Acadia on the scoresheet in the second period, adding 2 power-play markers. The first goal of the second period came from Rob Mignardi (Richmond Hill, Ont.), when he picked up a puck rebounding off the post and fired it through the five-hole on Steeves.

For their second of the period, UNB defenseman Jordan Murray (Riverview, N.B.), came in from the point to bury a snapshot through the legs of Steeves on the outside hash marks of the left faceoff circle to put UNB up 4-1.

UNB added another two goals in the third period, when Jordan Murray scored his second power-play goal of the night with an in tight no look backhand past Devon Williams (Detroit, Michigan), who replaced Steeves for the last period and a half.

Matt Boudens (Pembroke, Ont.), sealed the game for UNB late in the third, a low shot past Williams to end the scoring for the night.

Axeman team captain Geoff Schemitsch made no excuses for the Axemen loss but pointed out it was a tough game against the No. 1 team.

"We lost some guys last night that definitely hurt us to come in against the top ranked team in the country shorthanded and we have been playing with a short benched quite some time now", said Schemitsch. "It's not something we are not use too, but you really need everyone to be going against that team. Obviously we can be better, we have more to give so hopefully next week we can turn it around and give them a better game"

UNB took full advantage of the power-play, going 3-for-8 on the night, while Acadia were 0-for-6.

After stopping 12 out of 16 shots on the night for Acadia, Robert Steeves was pulled in the second period for rookie goalie, Devon Williams, who turned aside 11 of 13 shots. UNB counterpart, Etienne Marcoux was solid for the Varsity Reds backstopping 21 of 22 shots.

UNB's Chris Clapperton (Cap Espoir, Que.) was named the Subway First Star of the Game. Clapperton had three assists on the night, while Acadia defenseman Geoff Schemitsch (Thornhill, Ont.) and UNB forward Jordan Murray were second and third stars, respectively.

The Axemen play face the UPEI Panthers next Friday night in Charlottetown and then travel to UNB for the rematch next Saturday evening. The Varsity Reds will host Saint Mary's Friday night and then close the weekend against Acadia on Saturday. 

Source: Jacob Foote, Acadia Athletics Communications Office