UPEI Panthers top Axemen 4-2

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - At Acadia Homecoming weekend, the UPEI Panthers squared off against the Axemen in a rare Sunday afternoon matchup.

The game started off with a jersey retirement ceremony for No. 6 Connie MacNeil - only the second jersey to be put in the rafters beside No. 22 Powell. MacNeil played from 1949 to 1953 and was a great ambassador for the Axemen throughout his years in the local community.

Chris Owens scored two power play goals and was named the game's second star in the losing effort, as the UPEI Panthers defeated the Acadia Axemen with a final score of 4-2.

Today's game, like the previous, saw domination by the visiting team in the opening frame. Colin Beck opened the scoring early, putting a weak snap shot through the legs of rookie goalie Brandon Glover on the game's first shot.

Reginaldo Traccitto would make it 2-0 in the first at 4:25, scoring on a creative passing play on the power play. The Panthers' lead would grow to 3-0 five and a half minutes later, when Alex Wall beat Glover on a wrap-around goal travelling high on the short side.

The Panthers' dominant play continued at the start of the second period on a Chris Desousa goal at 1:43 on a two-on-one break. Glover was replaced by third-year goaltender Evan Mosher, who stopped all 21 shots fired at him, including two breakaways, a penalty shot, and a two-on-one break.

With less than three minutes remaining in the second frame, Chris Owens netted his first goal of the season on a slap shot from the top of the slot, on the man advantage.

The third period was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams. Owens scored the only goal of the final frame, nearly replicating his first of the game, again on the power play.

Unfortunately it wasn't enough as Acadia struggled to find the back of the net in this match up.

The three stars of the game were awarded to Alex Wall who had a goal and a assist, Chris Owens who had two goals, and Panther goalie Mavric Parks who stopped 50 shots.

The Axemen are off until Friday, when they'll visit the St. Thomas Tommies for a rematch of the season opener.

Source: Acadia Sport Information