No. 1 Reds double No. 10 Axemen 4-2

WOLFVILLE N.S. –The visiting UNB Reds picked up a 4-2 win against the hometown Acadia Axemen and extended their winning streak to 11 while ending Acadia's home game winning streak of 11.

The Axemen were the first team on the scoresheet. Johnny Corneil picked up the marker after finishing off a shorthanded 2 on 1 break by beating Reds goalie Samuel Harvey with a backhand through the five-hole. The goal was assisted by Rodney Southam and Tate Olsen.

The rest of the high-flying first period saw a bulk of chances at both ends, but no more goals. The Axemen led 1-0 after 20 minutes but trailed UNB's 13-10 shots on goal advantage.

The second frame was a scoreless one, the main highlight coming from Axemen goaltender Logan Flodell who robbed UNB's Tyler Boland with a flashy glove save on a one-timer in the slot. Even with numerous powerplay opportunities for both the Reds and the Axemen, neither team was able to find the back of the net and the score remained 1-0 for the home team.

Within the first two minutes of the third, UNB tied up the game at one.

Kris Bennett found a loose puck in front of the goal and showed great patience to maneuver around the goalie before sliding the puck past the outstretched Logan Flodell. The goal was shorthanded.

The Reds carried the moment adding a second goal just under eight minutes into the period. Samuel Dove-McFalls found a rebound from a Matt Murphy shot and was able to score over the blocker of Flodell to give the Reds their first lead of the night.

Brady Gilmour capitalized on a powerplay opportunity with 8:51 remaining in the third after his perfect wrister beat the glove of the Axemen goaltender before deflecting off the crossbar and in. The tally was assisted by Matthew Boucher and Mark Simpson.

The Axemen bounced back with a goal at the six-minute mark. Ross MacDougall dumped the puck on net from the neutral zone and then charged all the way from centre ice to fire home the misplayed rebound from goalie Samuel Harvey up into the roof of the net.

The Axemen's late flurry of chances late in the third was not enough to tie the game as Kris Bennett added an empty netter to double the Red's lead for his second goal of the game.

"I thought we came out strong in the first and kinda took it to them, but in the second they kinda took it back to us. They are the number one team in the country for a reason. They had a good push and we really didn't have a response to it," said Eric Henderson following the game.

At the conclusion of the game, the shots were 45-22 in favour of the Reds.

The Axemen play tomorrow night at home against the Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleus with hopes of returning to the win column as the season winds down. A win against Moncton will clinch the quarterfinal bye and second place in the AUS standings.

The Reds take on Saint Mary's in Halifax tomorrow evening as they look to continue their win streak with three games remaining in the regular season.  

Provided by Griffin Herrington, Acadia Athletics Communications