Tigers drop 3-2 OT decision to the Axemen

Submitted by Joshua Foote, Acadia Communications Office

WOLFVILLE, N.S – The Acadia Axemen bounced back from a 4-1 lost last weekend against the StFX X-Men, to defeat the Dalhousie Tigers, (1-2), 3-2 in OT and improve to (2-1) on the season. Subway first star of the night, Kyle Farrell (Howie Center, N.S.), scored a beautiful goal in overtime to send the home crowd into an ecstatic frenzy.

Despite a combined 17 shots between the Tigers and Axemen (eight for the Axemen and nine for the Tigers), the first period was a scoreless affair.

Fourth-year forward Michael Clarke (Halifax, N.S.) potted his second goal of the season to give the Axemen a 1-0 lead. Clarke fired a wrist shot from the faceoff circle to the right of the Tigers goaltender, Corbin Boes (Saskatoon, Sask.), that bounced off the top of his helmet and into the net.

Following an assist on the first goal of the game, Subway third star of the game, Chance Braid, scored his first of the year on a beautiful pass from rookie defenseman, Nick Betz (Detroit, Michigan), at the side of the Tigers net.

Acadia also had two point shots off the crossbar on one of their two power plays of the period, leading the Tigers in shots, 25-16, heading into the final frame with a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers jumped back into the game shortly before the halfway point of the third period, when third-year forward, Colton Parsons (Kingston, N.S) stole the puck from an Acadia defenceman in the Axemen zone and scored in tight on Devon Williams (Detroit, Michigan), going low blocker side.

Acadia looked poised to take the game, following a timeout by Dalhousie. On a 3-on-1 with an empty net, second-year Acadia forward Kyle Farrell fell victim to a broken stick before he could shoot it in, which led to a Dalhousie rush that saw rookie forward Alex Pawelczyk (Sterling Heights, Michigan), tap the puck past Williams with 54 seconds left to play and sending the game to overtime.

Farrell was quick to redeem himself in overtime, scoring five hole on Boes, on a beautiful breakaway saucer pass from Brett Thompson (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.), 38 seconds into overtime.

As is usually the case in low scoring games, goaltending was a highlight of the game. Both netminders put forth exceptional games. Rookie goaltender and recent Acadia Male Athlete of the Week, Devon Williams (Detroit, Michigan), turned aside 21 of 23 shots, while his Dalhousie counterpart, Corbin Boes, who was named Subway second star of the game for good reason, stopped 34 of 37 shots and kept his team in the game.

Neither team was able to capitalize on their power plays, with both teams going 0-for-5 on the night.

The Axemen take to the ice again Saturday night, at home, against the CIS No. 1 ranked StFX X-Men at 7:00PM, while the Tigers will next hit the ice Saturday night as well, against the Saint Mary's Huskies.