No.7-ranked Axemen close in on playoff berth with 5-1 home win over X-Men

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The CIS No. 7-ranked Acadia Axemen recorded their second straight win in AUS men's hockey action Wednesday night in Wolfville with a convincing 5-1 win over the visiting StFX X-Men.

Acadia's Liam Heelis scored his third goal in two games and his eighth of the season by deflecting a Leo Jenner shot from the point to give Acadia a 1-0 lead with just over four minutes off of the clock in the opening period.

Despite getting out-shot by a 18-1 margin in the first, the X-Men managed to reply to Heelis' goal at the 5:35 mark of the second period when Ted Stephens netted his fifth of the season.

Reigning CIS player of the year and Acadia's leading goal scorer Andrew Clark netted his 12th of the season, and the eventual game-winner, on a short-handed marker at the 13:33 mark of the second frame, giving Acadia their second lead of the game.

Senior forward Jonathan Laberge scored a minute later to cap Acadia's scoring in the second period, giving the Axemen a 3-1 lead heading into the locker room.

Rookie forward Brett Thompson, named the Subway Player of the Game, put the final nails in the coffin with a pair of third period goals, his eighth and ninth of the season. The first came on the power-play with just under five minutes remaining and the second came at 17:03 to give Acadia a 5-1 victory.

Acadia out-shot StFX 42-19 in the contest as the Axemen improve to 14-6-1, while StFX drops to 11-8-2 and remain in fourth place, trailing Acadia by five points.

With wins posted by UNB and Saint Mary's tonight, Acadia remains in third place heading into this weekend's games against Saint Mary's and Dalhousie in Halifax.

StFX hosts Dalhousie on Friday, followed by Saint Mary's on Saturday night in Antigonish.

Acadia will close out the regular season with four of their remaining seven games at home including match-ups against Moncton and St. Thomas in two weeks, followed by games at home against Dalhousie and Saint Mary's.

Source: Acadia Sports Information