X-Men lose 4-2 to Varsity Reds

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - Two goals thirty seconds apart in the third period propelled the CIS No. 2-ranked UNB Varsity Reds (4-0) to a 4-2 road win over the StFX X-Men (1-3-1) in AUS hockey action Saturday night at the Keating Centre in Antigonish.

At 9:07, Cam Critchlow scored the game-winner for UNB, beating X-Men goalie Drew Owsley with a snap shot from the slot area. Phillippe Maillet assisted on the marker.

That goal came after Nick MacNeil knotted the score 2-2, when he deposited the rebound off a Shea Kewin shot behind Owsley. Matt Petgrave had the other helper.

The X-Men opened the scoring in the first period on a Jason Bast goal at 5:12. Spencer McAvoy, with the point shot, and Brennen Wray garnered the assists.

The Varsity Reds outshot the X-Men 19-5 in the first period, but backstopped by Owsley, the blue and white took a 1-0 lead to the locker room.

At 2:02 of the second period, on the power play, Mike Thomas evened the affair for the Varsity Reds, with assists from Thomas Nesbitt and Taylor MacDougall.

The X-Men regained the lead at 4:34 of the third period on a goal from first-year forward Robert Slaney. On the backhand, he completed a nifty two-on-one breakaway with linemate Michael Kirkpatrick. Blake Gal chipped in the other assist.

MacNeil, with his second, wrapped up the scoring at 19:52 on an unassisted empty-netter.

Charles Lavigne made 18 saves for the win, while Owsley turned aside 40 shots for the X-Men.

The Varsity Reds converted one out of six power play opportunities, while the X-Men came up empty on three attempts.

The X-Men return to action next weekend with home games versus the Dalhousie Tigers (Friday, Nov. 1) and Saint Mary's Huskies (Saturday, Nov. 2). Puck drop for both games is 7 p.m. at the Keating Centre.

Source: StFX Sport Information