Axemen hand Panthers fourth straight loss with 4-3 victory

(Charlottetown, P.E.I.) – The Acadia Axemen won their third straight game, defeating the UPEI Panthers at the MacLauchlan Arena in front of 767 fans in Charlottetown, Friday night.

UPEI came out flying in the first period, looking to get back in the win column after dropping their last three games. The Panthers had plenty of chances, getting 19 shots on net in the first period.

Goalie Brandon Glover (Victoria, B.C.), was able to turn away 18 attempts but UPEI's Cole MacMillan (Stanhope, P.E.I.) struck pay dirt 14:07 into the game, assisted by Casey Babineau (Truro, N.S.) and Chris Desousa (Mississauga, Ont.).

Desousa wasted no time adding his second point of the game when he found the back of the net on a power play only 20 seconds into the second period to give UPEI a 2-0 lead. Reggie Tracitto (Oakville, Ont.) and Marcus Power (St. John's, Nfld.) earned assists on the goal.

The remainder of the period saw only a few chances by either squad as the score stayed 2-0 for UPEI through two thirds of the game.

Acadia was able to convert on a power play of their own 4:51 into the final period as Zachary Franko (Winnipeg, Man.), assisted by Christopher Owens (St. John's, Nfld.) and Remy Giftopoulos (Ancaster, Ont.), opened up the scoring for the Axemen.

Just under two minutes later, Franko would return the favor as he and Boston Leier (Saskatoon, Sask.) assisted on Remy Giftopoulos's game-tying goal.

The game would not stay tied for long as UPEI's Chris Desousa, assisted by Brent Andrews and Marcus Power scored his second of the game to regain a one-goal lead at the 9:03 mark of the third.

Acadia's Zachary Franko answered back a minute later off an assist from Liam Heelis (Georgetown, Ont.) and Remy Giftopoulos, knotting the game at 3-3.

The Axemen kept the pressure on the Panthers and were able to beat goaltender Mavric Parks (Eganville, Ont.) one more time to take the lead for good winning 4-3.

The game-winning goal scored by Matthew Pufahl (Saskatoon, Sask.) and was set up by Stephen Woodworth (Middleton, N.S.) and Boston Leier.

The UPEI Panthers (4-7-2) are in action on Saturday night, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m., as they face the Dalhousie Tigers (4-9-0) in Montague, P.E.I.

The Axemen's (10-3-0) next game takes place at home on Nov. 26 at Acadia when they take on Dalhousie (4-9-0) in Wolfville, N.S.

Source: Jonathan Lane for UPEI Sports Information