Axemen stop two game slide with win over Moncton

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia (3-3) snapped a short two game winless streak in a shootout against the Moncton Aigles Bleus (2-4) that saw 11 goals between the two teams in a 7-4 win for Acadia.

The first period got off to a quick start, with both teams scoring on their first shot of the night.

The scoring was opened by fourth year Axemen forward Michael Clarke (Halifax, N.S), picking up the rebound of third year forward Samuel Fioretti (Calgary, Alta.) and burying it into a wide open net.

Moncton was quick to respond, answering with a goal of their own less than 30 seconds later from third year forward and Subway Second Star of the Night, Jean-Francois Plante (Sherbrooke, Que.). Plante sped past the Axemen defense to fire a wrist shot by the Acadia goaltender Brandon Glover (Victoria, B.C.) in tight to tie the game at one.

Acadia dominated the majority of the opening period, outshooting the Aigles Bleus 17-8 by the end of the first frame, but were unable to capitalize until the last minute of the period.

Second year Axemen forward Remy Giftopoulos (Ancaster, Ont.) made a beautiful toe drag around an Aigles Bleu defender at the top of the left offensive zone faceoff dot, in order to dish the puck to Subway First Star of the Night Kyle Farrell (Howie Center, N.S.). Farrell tipped the puck into a wide open net, past Aigles Bleus goalie Brandon Thibeau (Riverview, N.B.) who was out of position. Heading into the second, the Axemen were up 2-1.

Moncton was keen to strike back, scoring just before the midway mark of the second. Plante scored his second of the night on a one-timer on the goal line, to the right of the net. Kyle Farrell was quick to respond, picking up Boston Leier's (Saskatoon, Sask.) rebound in tight to put the Axemen up 3-2.

The Axemen added to their lead at the end of the period, when Matthew Puffahl (Saskatoon, Sask.), redirected a slap-pass from Brendan Childerley (Stratord, Ont.) with 1:31 remaining in the second.

Axemen rookie Stephen Harper (Burlington, Ont.) scored his first goal of his U Sports career and added an assist in a rough third period that saw Axemen forward, Tyler Makin (Lethbridge, Alta.), and Aigles Bleus defenseman, Samuel Roussy (Paspebiac, Que.) handed 10-minute majors towards the end of the game for an altercation in the Moncton zone, after the whistle.

Moncton added two more in the third period, with markers from Alex Sauliner (Cap-Pele, N.B.) and Victor Beaulac (Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.).

Acadia went 1-for-4 on the power-play, while Moncton was 1-for-6 in a game that saw an accumulated 48 minutes of penalties between the two teams.

Things remained close for a while in the third, with the Axemen holding a 5-3 lead, until Subway Third Star of the Night, Samuel Fioretti (Calgary, Alta.), scored two late goals, to put the game away for Acadia.

Acadia goaltender, Brandon Glover (Victoria, B.C.), turned aside 20 of 24 shots in his first start of the season, while his Aigles Bleus counterpart, Brandon Thibeau, stopped 24 of 31 Acadia shots.

Acadia does not take to the ice again until Friday, Oct. 28 in Wolfville, against the Saint Mary's Huskies. The Aigles Bleus will also face the Huskies next, on Wednesday, Oct. 26 in Halifax. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. for both games. 

Submitted by Joshua Foote, Acadia Sports Communications Office