No. 3-ranked Axemen hold onto first place with 5-4 win over No. 4 Saint Mary’s

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The first home match up of the new year was set to be an exciting one as both teams looked to make a push for the top spot in the AUS standings during the second half of the season.

Saint Mary's entered the game only one point behind the Acadia Axemen in the standings. The Huskies lead the regular season series of four games 2-0 with both games being won by only a single goal.

The Huskies wasted no time opening the scoring early. Two minutes in, capitalizing on an Acadia turn over below the goal line, Alex Cord netted his first goal of the regular season under the blocker arm of Brandon Glover.

Following a Saint Mary's hooking call, Michael Clarke capitalized off of a miscue by a Huskies defenceman, returning the favour just 76 seconds later, rifling one off the cross bar and in.

With under a minute to play in the opening frame, third-year forward Brett Thompson caught the Huskies on a line change, allowing him to break away on his own, scoring on Anthony Peters on the far side to give Acadia their first lead.

The lead didn't last long as the Huskies took advantage of a power play with seven seconds remaining in the period. Kyle Pereira wired a slap shot through traffic that fooled Glover, tying the game at two apiece.

The second frame started with an abundance of chances for both teams. However, six minutes into the period, Acadia would allow a Huskies forward to come in one-on-one with an Axemen defenceman. Stephen Johnson, who scored the overtime winner in the last meeting of both teams, scored a beautiful goal by deking out an Acadia defender and out-waiting Glover who was sprawled out trying to make the save.

Just over six minutes later, the Axemen scored on the power play again. Rookie forward Remy Giftopolous snapped a shot that beat Peters' glove hand side through traffic, scoring his sixth goal of the season and first of two goals of the night.

Opening the third period, Bradley Greene found room alone in front of the net in the high slot during four on four action and made no mistake, giving the Huskies their third lead of the game.

With seven minutes remaining in the final period, Giftopolous, with a heads up play, caught Peters on his post and pulled off a wrap-around goal to earn himself his second goal of the night and the game's Subway first star honours with three points. Giftopolous's goal tied the game at four.

On an innocent looking one-timer from just inside the blue line, veteran Chris Owens scored the eventual game winner with 1:03 remaining in the game.

Acadia captain Liam Heelis received the game's third star, with one assist on the night, while Huskies forward Stephen Johnson was named second star of the game.

Brandon Glover played very well making 27 saves, while his counterpart Anthony Peters made 24.

Acadia next home game is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 16 as they take on the St. Thomas Tommies.

The Axemen head to Antigonish tomorrow night to take on the StFX X-Men, while the Huskies return home to take on the Dalhousie Tigers who picked up a 3-2 win over StFX Friday night.

Source: Acadia Sports Information