Panthers hand CIS No. 4-ranked Axemen third loss in last five games

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The CIS No. 4-ranked Acadia Axemen continued to struggle with the UPEI Panthers, losing to the Panthers for the second time in four regular season matchups. 

With a 5-2 loss to the Panthers, Acadia drops to sole possession of second place in the AUS standings.

Acadia had several chances, hitting the net a total of 49 times, but the Subway First Star of the Game Mavric Park stood tall making numerous acrobatic saves and stealing the win for the Panthers.

Evan Mosher registered only his fourth loss of the season, allowing four goals on 27 shots.

UPEI opened the scoring late in the first when fourth-year forward Reginaldo Traccitto pounced on a give-away and capitalized on the opportunity, going upstairs over the glove of Evan Mosher, ringing it off the cross bar and in.

Traccitto also added an empty net goal with 92 seconds remaining in the game, whose effort was good enough earn him third star of the game honours.

Acadia answered five minutes into the second frame on the man-advantage, after UPEI killed off the first half of a 5-on-3 opportunity.

Chris Owens one-timed a shot from the faceoff for his eighth goal of the season to tie the game at one apiece. Owens leads the AUS in both goals and points for a defenceman. Owens also received second star of the game honours for his two-point game.

It didn't take long for UPEI to take another lead, scoring just under two minutes after Owens tied the game at one. Evan Mosher let in a goal through a screen on an innocent looking wrist shot by Alex Wall from the ringette line.

Acadia's second and last goal of game came from Tyler Ferry who scored on a nifty tip in front of a shot by Chris Owens, roofing it over the UPEI netminder and evening the score at two.

UPEI hit the back of the net for a third time, leaving Panther Chris Desousa all alone in front of the crease with room to work as he made no mistake going forehand, then backhand and off the post and in.

Chris Desousa also added an insurance goal at the end of the second period, netting a beautiful wrist shot past Acadia's Mosher. The empty netter with just over a minute in the game ended the chances of any comeback from Axemen.

With this game in the books, the Axemen will have to regroup as they host the St. Thomas Tommies tonight, Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.

The Panthers will visit the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax tonight. Puck drop is also set for 7 p.m.

Source: Mitchel Racine for Acadia Sports Information