(ANTIGONISH, NS) The U SPORTS No. 4 ranked UNB REDS won their fourth game in a row, handing the STFX X-Men a 5-2 loss on Saturday night, in Antigonish.
Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON) scored the game winner 12 minutes into the third period to break a 2-2 deadlock between the conference rivals. The REDS then added a couple empty net goals.
STFX thought they lit the lamp early in the first period, but the goal was disallowed on a delayed offside call.
It was the REDS who were first on the board officially, with Austen Keating (Guelph, ON) creating a turnover in the X zone and sliding one home with just over six minutes played.
The REDS were flying in the first, barring the X-Men from registering an official shot for the first 15 minutes of the game, and allowing only two for the period. Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) stood tough in the X net, turning aside all but one of the 21 shots he faced.
STFX came out looking to redeem themselves in the second period, and were rewarded with a powerplay goal, coming off the stick of Matthew Struthers (Milton, ON).
Struthers again found the back of the net, a few minutes later, while the teams were playing four on four, off a pass from Patrick Kyte (Pembroke, ON).
UNB tied things with about seven minutes gone in the period, with Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) scoring a powerplay marker, from Kade Landry (Gowanstown, ON).
Later, Raaymakers again came up big for the home team, as did the X-Men penalty kill, skating away from a two-minute, two-player disadvantage unscathed.
Shots at the end of the second were 39-11 in favour of the REDS.
UNB came out tough again in the third, but the STFX defence stood tall until the 12:08 mark when Willms broke the deadlock.
Corbiel added a shorthanded empty netter with 1:33 to play, with Macauley Carson (Midhurst, ON) potting the second empty net goal to seal the deal for the REDS, who improve to 5-2 on the season.
Samuel Richard (Ste Catherine, QC) made 13 saves for the win in the REDS net, while the game's second star Raaymakers had 50 saves in the loss for the X-Men.
Corbeil earned first star and Subway Player of the Game honours.
With the win, the REDS improve to 5-2-0-0 and move into a tie for second place in the Atlantic University Sport standings. The X-Men are now 2-5-0-0.
The X-Men next hit the ice on Friday, when they visit Halifax to take on Saint Mary's.
UNB's next match up is Wednesday, when they will tangle with provincial rival and league-leaders Moncton in a 7:00pm start.
RECAP BY: Matt Draper/for STFX Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Bryan Kennedy/for STFX Athletics