X-Men Edge Reds

(ANTIGONISH, NS) The St FX X-Men avenged last week's 6-3 loss to the UNB Reds, beating the U SPORTS No. 1 Reds 3-2, Friday night.

A pair of early third period goals, scored 23 seconds apart, was the difference in the game.

St FX opened the scoring with a power-play marker six minutes in, as defenseman Cole MacDonald (Wetaskiwin, AB) ripped a wrist shot high past Rylan Parenteau (Saskatoon, SK) in the Reds net.

The lead didn't last long, however, as the Reds scored a power-play goal of their own less than three minutes later. Alexandre Goulet (Disraeli, QC) picked up a rebound in the slot in front of the X net and shoveled it in past Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON). 

Tyler Boland (St. John's, NF) had a good scoring chance for UNB late in the period as he went in on a semi-break, but Raaymakers stuck a pad out for the save.

There was no scoring in the second period.

X had a couple of power-play chances but were shut down by the Reds penalty kill. The Reds, in turn, had several chances on the man-advantage as the X-Men ran into penalty trouble late in the period. 

The U SPORTS No. 1 ranked team could not convert any scoring opportunities however, and the 1-1 score held after 40 minutes.  

The X-Men scored a pair of goals, 23 seconds apart, two minutes into the third.

William Thompson (Fredericton, NB) blasted a shot from the point that beat a screened Parenteau, then Matt Graham (Bedford, NS) connected with Adam Laishram (Ashburn, ON) to score the X-Men's third goal of the night. After solid forechecking Graham found Laishram open in the slot and he made no mistake.

The Reds had a chance with six minutes left in the period when Oliver Cooper (Fredericton, NB) rang one off the cross bar.

They converted on a 5-on-3 power play at 15:52, when Boland took a pass from Goulet in the corner and beat Raaymakers blocker side to pull the Reds to within a goal.

The Reds pulled Parenteau with a minute left and pressured for the equalizer but the X-Men were able to hold them off.

Final shots in the game favoured UNB 31-22, as Raaymakers earned Subway Player of the Game honours.

The win snaps a three-game losing skid for the X-Men, who are now 4-2-1. The Reds, 5-2, suffered their second loss of the season.

UNB takes to the ice again Saturday night in Halifax when they face Dalhousie.

The X-Men next see action on Wednesday, when they host Saint Mary's.

RECAP BY: Krista McKenna/St FX Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Kendra Vigneau/for St FX Athletics