X-Men lose close 4-3 game to Moncton in shootout

ANTIGONISH, NS - A shootout goal from Moncton Aigles Bleus forward Jeremy Lapointe (Drummondville, QC) capped off an exciting 4-3 win over the STFX X-Men in Atlantic University Sport hockey action Friday night at the Charles V Keating Centre.  

Both teams came out early with speed trying to gain an advantage, but the score remained even. The X-Men went on the powerplay midway through the first period, but Moncton's PK was up to the task. Moncton's sticks came alive in the last minute of the period, with Olivier-Luc Hache (Savoie Landing, NB) and Jeremy Lapointe (Drummondville, QC) both tallying in the final 45 seconds.  

Hache found twine first, scoring off a two-on-one with Michale Cyr (Sainte-Anne, NB) and first star of the game Jacob Dion (Sherbrooke, QC) also assisting. Thirty seconds later, Lapointe wristed one home after some tic-tac-toe passing from Charles Edouard Drouin (St-Georges-de-Beauce, QC) and Jeremy Michel (Levis, QC).  

Yann-Felix Lapointe (Granby, QC) scored off a one-timer four minutes into the middle stanza to make it 3-0 for the visitors, with Dion and Edouard St-Laurent (Levis, QC) assisting.

STFX got back in the game four minutes later, with a point blast from third star of the night Mark Woolley (St. Thomas, ON) finding the back of the net through a screen. Dallas Farrell (Cardigan, PE) and Ben Mercer (Halifax, NS) had the helpers.  

Both teams pressed to put more points on the board, but strong play from Moncton's Olivier Adam (Drummondville, QC) and STFX's Lucas Pfeil (Owen Sound, ON) between the pipes kept the score at 3-1 heading into the second intermission.  

Second star of the night Mercer made it a one goal game four minutes into the third period, roofing one into the top corner and off the water bottle after skating in from the redline. Woolley and Alex Christopoulos (Richmond Hill, ON) assisted.

STFX continued to generate chances, and with five minutes to go in regulation, a Logan Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) shot deflected in off Christopoulos who was skating to the net. Zack Trott (Mulmur, ON) had the other assist.

Overtime settled nothing, leading to the shootout. After the first three shooters aside failed to score, Lapointe scored and STFX's final shooter Jacob Maillet (Dundas, ON) rang one off the post) as the Aigles Bleus took the win.

Pfeil finished the night with 35 saves, while Adam had 32 stops in the win.  

Les Aigles Bleus continue their road trip tomorrow, with a game in Halifax against the Dalhousie Tigers. STFX continues their homestand tomorrow as they host the AUS leading UNB Reds. Both games are at 7 p.m.  

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics