Axemen hand X-Men 4-1 loss and improve to 9-1

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The U SPORTS No. 4 ranked Acadia Axemen extend their winning streak to nine games and improve to 10-1 with a convincing 4-1 win over the visiting StFX X-Men.

"I thought we played really well. We didn't put up with the stuff they like to do after the whistle. That's a big thing with X, they want to get on you after the whistle. I thought we kept our composure and our focus. We took it to them early on and we just kept going," noted Jack Flaman who had the empty netter to put the game out of reach with just over a minute remaining in the game.

The opening period saw no goals or even close calls until the X-Men struck with 33 seconds remaining in the first frame.  Adam Laishram scored an unassisted goal as he skated past Logan Flodell and pulled off a wrap-around goal that gave StFX the lead heading into the locker room.

With Acadia doubling StFX with 10-5 shots on net in the first period, the Axemen tied the game at the 7:51 mark of the second period when Cristiano Digiacinto scored his seventh goal of the season after a beautiful across the top of the crease pass from teammate Jordy Stallard.

The Axemen grabbed a 2-1 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the second period. With the X-Men on the powerplay, Axeman Garrett McFadden won a race for a loose puck in the neutral zone and was pulled down as he raced on the breakaway. McFadden would not fail, taking a high shot over the blocker side of Joseph Raaymakers on the penalty shot that followed.

With a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame, the Axemen extended the lead to 3-1 on a Johnny Corneil one-timer shot from a feed from the corner from Stephen Harper. Corneil's goal at 8:37 of the third period gave the Axemen comfortable lead into the closing of the game.

Raaymakers was pulled at the 2:34 mark of the third period and Flaman would solidify the win with an empty-net goal shortly thereafter.

Garrett McFadden's penalty shot goal earned him the Subway First Star of the Game, while Adam Laishram and Flaman were second and third stars respectively.

"I thought we competed well. We had Olson and Loch back. I thought they played well there tonight as well. The first period we were down and we came in and regrouped and the last two periods I thought we took it to them," said Associate Coach Kris McDonald.

Acadia outshot StFX by a slim margin of 32-29.

The X-Men lose their second game in a row and slip to 4-4-1 and travel to Saint Mary's tomorrow night. The Axemen have the remainder of the weekend off and return to action on Friday, November 8^th at Moncton and then to UNB on Saturday, November 9^th.