Axemen end losing streak with OT win over No. 2 UNB

Wolfville, N.S. – The U SPORTS No. 8 ranked Acadia Axemen (16-10-2) snapped a five-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, downing the No. 2 UNB Varsity Reds (22-2-4) 4-3 in overtime. Kyle Farrell notched two goals in the win, while Remy Giftopoulos scored the OT winner 1:30 into the extra frame.

The snapped losing streak of five games was the longest since the 2007-2008 season.

Acadia outplayed UNB in the first and it was reflected on the scoreboard, as the Axemen took a 1-0 lead into the second.

The Axemen opened the scoring early when forward Kyle Farrell was sprung on a partial breakaway, where he lifted a backhand past glove of the UNB goaltender Alex Dubeau.

Despite losing their lead in the second, thanks to two goals from UNB, Kyle Farrell added his second of the game to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the third.

UNB answered back early in the second, with a power-play marker from defenseman Randy Gazzola, who came in tight on the Axemen goalie and tucked a backhand into the bottom left corner of the net to tie the game at 1-1.

The Varsity Reds took the lead before the half-way mark of the second frame on a shorthanded goal from forward Chris Clapperton who fired a wrist shot under the pads of Axemen netminder Robert Steeves to take a 2-1 lead.

Farrell scored his second of the night on a 4-on-4 when he was left open in the slot and buried a one-timer into the top left corner of the UNB net to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the third.

UNB regained the lead in the third frame, when Randy Gazzola scored his second of the night on a long wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that went into the bottom left corner of the net to make it 3-2.  

The Axemen tied the game in dramatic fashion, with their goalie pulled and 12.7 seconds left on the clock.

Axemen forward Boston Leier scored the tying goal after picking up a rebound from an Acadia point shot in front of the net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

The Axemen started the 4-on-4 OT frame with a man-advantage and they took advantage of their opportunity, with Remy Giftopoulos lifting the puck over the left pad of the sprawling UNB goalie for the game-winner.

Axemen goaltender Robert Steeves turned aside 24 of 27 shots, while his UNB counterpart Dubeau stopped 25 of 29.

Acadia plays their final home game of the season on Friday, Feb. 9 against the Saint Mary's Huskies before wrapping up their regular season in Moncton against the Aigles Bleus on Sat. Feb. 10. UNB will host StFX next Friday night followed by Dalhousie on Saturday. All games starting t 7:00 p.m.