X-Men drop close 5-4 game to Panthers

ANTIGONISH, NS - The UPEI Panthers skated away with a 5-4 win after a closely fought game with the STFX X-Men at Charles V Keating Centre Friday night. 

The teams were evenly matched early in the first period, with neither team able to gain an advantage. STFX was first on the scoreboard though, with Mark Woolley (St. Thoman, ON) sending a breakout pass to a streaking Alex Christopoulos (Richmond Hill, ON), who skated in and floated a pass to an open Logan Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) in front of the net for the score midway through the period. 

STFX forward Ethan Burroughs made it a two-goal game just over a minute later, wristing home a pass from Connor Roberts (Owen Sound, ON) and Jacob Maillet (Dundas, ON). The home team came close to adding to their lead with about two minutes to go, but Panthers goalie and first star of the game Jakob Robillard (Rockland, ON) made a big stop on an STFX breakaway. 

The Panthers kept pressing and with under two seconds to play, Ben McFarlane (Ayr, ON) took a pass from Noah Sedore (Sharon, ON) and buried a low shot from the high slot to make it 2-1 heading into the intermission.

UPEI tied the game under a minute into the second period, as third star Josh Currie (Pickering, ON) picked up a Morton pass from the point that bounced off the boards behind the STFX net and fired one home.

Under a minute later, the Panthers struck again, with Marc Richard (Clinton, PE) picking up his own rebound from a shot in close and hitting twine for a 3-2 lead.

STFX tied the game up about halfway through the period, as Zack Trott (Mulmur, ON) one-timed a Charlie Callaghan (Toronto, ON) pass from the point after Chisholm won the offensive draw on the powerplay. 

Pearson gave the Panthers the lead again five minutes into the third period, with a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that bounced high and into the net. MacFarlane made it a two-goal game again 40 seconds later, chipping in a pass from Sedore on a two-on-one for his second goal of the night.

Second star of the game Chisholm got one back for the X-Men, tipping home a point shot from Callaghan while on the powerplay. STFX pulled the goalie looking for the equalizer, but the Panthers held on for the win. 

Lucas Pfeil (Owen Sound, ON) made 11 saves in the X net for the loss, while Robillard had 24 stops in the win. 

The Panthers return to action Saturday, October 19, when they visit the Dalhousie Tigers, at 7 p.m. The X-Men are on the road next weekend, when they visit UNB on Friday, October 25, at 7 p.m.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Atlhetics