Axemen struggle with 5-2 loss to Huskies

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen (5-14-2) lost their fifth straight game following a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the second place Saint Mary's Huskies (14-7-1).

"Every team goes through struggles. Just keep working hard and we'll work through it and the guys will find their way," noted Axeman Kyle Farrell following the game.

Although the Axemen led in shots and came close to tying the game in the third, they never held a lead during the game.

The Axemen dominated play for the majority of the opening period, but Saint Mary's left the ice with a 1-0 lead after the first.

The Huskies gained their lead when forward Hunter Garlent and Subway First Star of the Night, chipped the puck around the defenceman and lifted the puck over the left shoulder of the Axemen goalie to make it 1-0.

Following a first period shut-out against Moncton last night, this marked four straight scoreless period for Acadia.

By the end of the first period, the shots were 12-9 for the Axemen.

Saint Mary's added to their lead early in the second when forward Jake Coughler stepped into the slot and fired a wrist shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net to make it 2-0.

Acadia finally got on the scoreboard with 14:23 remaining to play in the second thanks to Stephen Harper and Kyle Farrell.

Harper got the puck near centre ice, carried it into the offensive zone and fired a pass up to a streaking Farrell, who tucked the puck into the top right corner of the net to make it 2-1.

Saint Mary's reclaimed their two-goal lead shortly after the halfway point in the second, as forward Anthony Repaci slid one through the five-hole of the Axemen goalie to make it 3-1.

Acadia pulled goaltender Dawson Carty following his third goal, stopping 13 of 16 shots.

The Axemen responded with incredible speed, scoring less than 30 seconds later, as forward Jackson Houck wired a wrist shot into the top right corner to make it 3-2.

Saint Mary's held their 3-2 lead going to the final period.

By the end of the second period, the teams were tied in shots with 18 each.

Despite a close period, Saint Mary's sealed their victory late in the third on a goal from defenceman Nick Welsh, and the third star of the night, to make it 4-2.

The Axemen made a late push after pulling their goalie while on a power-play, but Saint Mary's killed the penalty to keep their two-goal lead.

Anthony Repaci collected the empty net goal with 1:43 remaining in the game for the 5-2 Huskie win.

Axemen goaltender Logan Flodell, who came in relief of Carty, turned aside 9 of 10 shots, while his Huskies counterpart Eric Brassard stopped 32 of 34 shots.

The second star of the night went to Acadia forward Cole Reginato.

The Axemen take to the ice again at home on Friday, Jan. 18 against the StFX X-Men. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm.

Submitted by Joshua Foote, Acadia Athletics Communications Office