Axemen down Varsity Reds 4-1

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The CIS No. 3-ranked Acadia Axeman posted an impressive 4-1 victory over the No. 2 UNB Varsity Reds, improving their record 18-4-2 and moving them into a tie for first place in the AUS standings with the Varsity Reds, who have a game in hand.

The action was at a high intensity from the opening bell. With UNB on the power play following a tripping call on Acadia, the V-Reds' Cam Braes scored his sixth goal of the regular season on the short side of starting goaltender Brandon Glover to give the visiting Varsity Reds their first and only goal at the 5:30 marker.

Senior forward Alex Beaton scored his first of three goals at 12:01 of the second period on the power play to tie the game at one.

Just over four minutes later, rookie Zachary Franko gave Acadia the lead with 3:34 remaining in the second period. Franko beat UNB netminder David Shantz for his 12th of the year. Brett Thompson and Remy Giftopolous received assists on the play.

Beaton scored again late in the third with an unassisted breakaway goal to give Acadia a 3-1 cushion with under three minutes remaining in the game.

For added measure, Beaton scored his third of the game and seventh of the season into an empty net from center ice. For his three-goal night, Beaton received the game's Subway first star honours.

Brandon Glover stood tall making 19 saves in the win, while David Shantz stopped 25 shots on the losing end.

The Acadia win snaps a 10-game winning streak that the Varsity Reds were riding prior to the game. The last time UNB lost was back on Nov. 15 when the Axemen pulled off a 4-3 overtime win in Fredericton. The Axemen lead the four game season series 3-0.

The Varsity Reds next see action at home as they host the seventh-place St. Thomas Tommies on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

Acadia visits New Brunswick next weekend, facing off against UNB on Friday and Moncton on Saturday.

Source: Mitchell Racine for Acadia Sports Communications