Gaynor leads Axemen to 2-1 win over Saint Mary's with two goals

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - Veteran forward and first star of the game, Joe Gaynor, scored both of the Axemen's goals, which were enough to defeat the Saint Mary's Huskies 2-1. Evan Mosher stopped 26 shots and was named the third star in the victory.

The CIS No. 8-ranked Axemen have now won four straight games, improving to 5-1-0 on the season.

The Axemen opened the scoring in the first, with Joe Gaynor the recipient of an end-to-end rush by second-year forward Dylan Anderson, sliding a pass a cross-crease for a wide open cage. The period was dominated by the Axemen who outshot their opponents 20-5.

The Huskies came out strong in the second, taking the period's handful of shots, but Acadia settled down behind the line of Joe Gaynor, Dustin Ekelman and Dylan Anderson. Gaynor scored his second of the game and third of the season, banking in Ekelman's rebound, to put Acadia up 2-0 with two minutes remaining in the period.

The third period was an even-matched battle between both teams, offering exciting end-to-end hockey. The period's only goal was a strange one, which was awarded to Huskie defenceman Michael D'Orazio. After it was initially called no goal on the ice, the linesmen and referees came together and reversed the ruling, calling it a good goal, bringing the Huskies within one near the end of the final frame.  But it wasn't enough, as the Acadia Axemen held on for the 2-1 win.

Despite goaltender Curtis Black's heroics and second star of the game award, the struggling Huskies fall to 1-4-0 on the year under interim head coach Tyler Naugler.

"Our guys played a complete game tonight," Acadia head coach Darren Burns. "I thought we worked very hard and showed good composure when the game got tight".

Acadia's next home game is in three weeks on Nov. 20 when they host the StFX X-Men. In the meantime, the Axemen have the remainder of the weekend off and will head to Halifax next Thursday to face off against the Huskies for their second meeting in less than a week.

Following next weekend's rest due to the FISU team tryout and Tim Hortons Team Canada all-star game, the Axemen will have their toughest challenge to date against the undefeated UNB Varsity Reds in Fredericton, followed by a visit to Moncton on Nov. 16.

Source: Mitch Racine on behalf of Acadia Sports Information