(WOLFVILLE, NS) The U SPORTS No. 7 ranked Acadia Axemen edged the No. 1 UNB Reds 3-2 on Friday, in Wolfville.
Acadia was the first team to strike, taking advantage of a power-play opportunity. Alexander Lepkowski (Buffalo, NY) buried his second of the season after finding a rebound in front of Rylan Parenteau (Saskatoon, SK).
The goal celebrations were short-lived as the Reds answered under a minute later with a goal of their own. After Alexandre Goulet (Disraeli, QC) ripped a shot off the post, Olivier LeBlanc (Quebec City, QC) was in the right place to gather the rebound and stuff the puck into the Acadia net.
It took only 24 seconds of the second period for the Axemen to reinstate their lead. A two-on-one rush was ended by Eric Henderson (Kingsville, ON) driving to the net and having a pass bounce off of him and past Parenteau.
Jack Flaman (Vbank, SK) was next on the scoresheet for the Axemen, scoring 6:27 into the frame. He was sprung on a breakaway following a blocked shot and squeezed a quick wrist shot past the netminder.
The Reds responded again. Matthew Boucher (Los Angeles, Calif.) took a perfect back-door pass from Goulet for an easy tap-in to bring UNB within a goal, at 3-2.
Though there were numerous chances at both ends of the rink, neither UNB nor Acadia could muster up a goal in the final period.
Acadia goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) was solid between the pipes making 40 saves, while Parenteau made 24 stops.
"We worked all week in practice to stay tight in our zone and letting them pass around. They are a fast team and they usually try to get everyone running. I thought we did a good job staying in the middle," noted by Flodell, following the game.
Acadia plays host to Moncton on Saturday night, and the Axemen will aiming for their fourth straight win.
The Reds visit Saint Mary's. Game time is 7:00pm.
RECAP BY: Griffin Herrington/for Acadia Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Peter Oleskevich/for Acadia Athletics