(ANTIGONISH, NS) The U SPORTS No. 2 ranked UNB REDS dropped the STFX X-Men 3-1 on Friday night, in Antigonish, in front of a crowd of more than 1000 fans.

Subway Player of the Game, UNB forward Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), had a big night with two goals, including the game winner. 

Billed as a battle between the two highest scoring squads in Atlantic University Sport, the teams went at each other from the opening face-off. The stifling UNB forecheck provided chances for the visitors while also limiting shots early for the X-Men. 

Still, both STFX goalie Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) and his UNB counterpart Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC) had to come up big a handful of times, as X picked up the pace and put a few more pucks on net. The X-Men penalty kill was also on their game, keeping the potent UNB power-play off the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes. 

The scoring started 39 seconds into the second period with X forward Connor Roberts (Owen Sound, ON) beating Richard short side with a low wrist shot.

After that, UNB kept pouring on the shots but couldn't find the back of the net until late in the period, with MacKay wiring one top shelf from the slot with Cody Morgan (Gilford, ON) and Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) assisting. 

Both teams showed their general dislike of one another with a bit of the rough stuff after a number of whistles, and both teams had a player in the box at the end of the period with the game knotted at 1-1.

The third period started with the teams playing 4-on-4, and the fast-pace continued with UNB buzzing early. Raaymakers stood on his head with a couple of big saves, including one on a breakaway, but it was UNB that took the lead with 11:12 left to play. 

MacKay made a great individual effort, taking the puck from the corner to the front of the net and stuffing in a backhand. Jason Willms (Kitchner, ON) had the assist. The REDS went on the power-play shortly thereafter, but X kept the door shut.

With just under three minutes left to play, STFX went on the power-play.

X-Men coach Brad Peddle called a timeout at the 18:00 mark, and pulled Raaymakers for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Willms added an empty net goal for the visitors with 37 seconds left to play.  

Richard had 23 saves in the win while Raaymakers made 40.

The X-Men next hit the ice on Saturday when they host the Moncton Aigles Bleus.

UNB is at Dalhousie to tangle with the Tigers. Puck drop for both games is 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Matt Draper/for STFX Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Bryan Kennedy/for STFX Athletics