V-Reds Fall In OT At Acadia

(WOLFVILLE, NS) The Acadia Axemen beat the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB Varsity Reds 3-2, in overtime, on Friday night.

UNB dominated play in the first period, but failed to capitalize on their chances due to the stellar play of Axemen goaltender and Subway Player of the Game Robert Steeves.

Steeves made two exceptional saves during an early UNB power-play, and turned aside all 19 shots in the period.

"It wasn't great but it could have also been worse," said Acadia forward Liam Maaskant. "We came back into the second ready to go."

Acadia opened the scoring 5:36 into the second period with a well-placed wrist shot from Axemen forward Stephen Harper, on the power-play.

UNB responded late with a power-play marker of their own to tie the game.

Varsity Reds forward and second star of the night, Chris Clapperton, danced through the offensive zone and fed a cross-ice pass to an open Tyler Boland who fired the puck into the open net, his first goal as a V-Red.

UNB struck early in the third when Clapperton took a one-timer from his knee at the side of the net, beating Steeves between the legs to make it 2-1.

Acadia tied the game at 9:21 of the third when forward Kris Hodge scooped up a rebound in front and fired the puck into the open net to ignite the home crowd.

Maaskant broke the tie at 2:08 of the extra period, with a hard slap shot that beat UNB goaltender Alex Dubeau.

Steeves turned aside 42 of 44 shots, while Dubeau stopped 23 of 26 shots.

With the win, Acadia is now 3-1-1, while the Varsity Reds are 4-0-1.

The Axemen play at home Saturday, against UPEI.

The Varsity Reds will visit the Saint Mary's Huskies.

BY: Joshua Foote, for Acadia Athletics Communications Office