Axemen move into fifth place after 4-3 win over Dalhousie

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) – It was a big win on Friday's Seniors Night for the Acadia Axemen, as they defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 4-3. Acadia came out on top despite giving up three power-play goals.

Subway First Star of the Night Cole Nagy (Saskatoon, Sask.) potted a pair of goals for Acadia in the opening period. Those two goals ended up being the difference maker in the game.

Nagy opened the scoring for Acadia early in the first when he grabbed a rebound in front of the net at 4:37 of the first period and put it away to make it 1-0.

Doubling up, Nagy added his second marker of the night at 8:03 of the first period.

Nagy was parked in front of the net, where he took a pass from Keegan Stevenson (Aweres Township, Ont.), who was working behind the net to free the puck. Nagy fired a quick snapshot past the Tiger's goalie to make it 2-0.

However, Dalhousie answered with a goal of their own on the power-play late in the opening period.

Campbell Pickard (Halifax, N.S.) had an easy tap-in after Cameron Thompson (Victoria, B.C.) broke in from the neutral zone to set up the power play and pulled Acadia's goalie Conor McCollum to one side of the net.

At the end of the first period, the shots were 11-5 for Acadia.

While there were chances on both sides through the period, it was late in the second before things got interesting.

Acadia added to their lead late in the second period thanks to Matt McKim (St. John's, Nfld.).

Nagy came out from behind the net and set up McKim for his first goal as an Acadia Axemen.

Dalhousie had a response shortly after thanks to another power-play marker.

Jarrett Baker (Black Rock, N.S.) wired a wrist shot high blocker side to pull within one goal of tying, making it 3-2.

That is where the score stood heading into the third.

By the end of the second period, the shots were 23-12 for Acadia.

Third star Brendan Sellan (Hanover, Ont.) was the difference maker for Acadia. His power-play goal 8:08 into the third period ended up being the eventual game-winner for Acadia.

Sellan took a feed from Nick Deakin-Poot (Georgetown, Ont.) while parked near the left side of the crease. He chipped the puck over the goalie's left pad to make it 4-2.

Dalhousie made one final stab at a comeback with Evan MacKinnon (Dartmouth, N.S.) adding another power-play marker for the Tigers.

MacKinnon snuck a shot past McCollum, narrowly beating him high right side.

That was as close as the Tigers would get, despite a pulled goalie at the end of the game.

Acadia's Conor McCollum turned aside 15 of 18 shots on the night, while his Dalhousie counterpart Alexander MacDonald stopped 26 of 30 shots.

The Axemen improve to 11-15-2-1 and slip into fifth place, while the Tigers drop to 6-21-1-1 and will make post season play.

Acadia closes out their regular season tomorrow night against STFX, while the Tigers host Saint Mary's for their last game of the season. The puck drops for both games at 7 pm.

Note: Five graduating Axemen were honoured prior to the start of tonight's game including Jack Flaman, Cole Rafuse, Morgan Nauss, Eric Henderson and Conor McCollum.

Provided by Joshua Foote, Acadia Athletics Communications Office