Fredericton, NB – The StFX X-Men fell 5-2 to the CIS ranked No. 2 UNB Varsity Reds Saturday night at the Aitken Centre.
Matt Boudens had a goal and three assists for the Varsity Reds who improved to 3-0 on the AUS season. The X-Men have yet to record a win in three games.
Boudens opened the scoring in the game for UNB with a first period goal at 3:16 from Randy Gazzola and Dylan Willick. The 1-0 lead held until the first intermission as the V-Reds outshot the X-Men 17-9 in the opening frame.
Tempers flared towards the end of the period as seven infractions were handed out with 57 seconds left in the first period. X-Men forward Zack MacQueen received a five minute charging penalty and a game misconduct, while StFX's Steven Kuhn and UNB's Cam Critchlow received 10-minutes misconduct penalties, alongside roughing minors.
Subway player of the game R.D. Chisholm, skating with the Varsity Reds this season after formerly playing with the X-Men, gave the home team a 2-0 lead as he scored a power play marker at 12:33 of the second period.
At 15:20 Peter Trainor increased the V-Reds lead to 3-0 with UNB's second power play goal of the evening. Gazzola and Matt Petgrave assisted.
Momemtum shifted quickly, however, as the X-Men fought back and scored goals within a minute apart before the second period ended.
Nathan Chiarlitti notched a shorthanded goal from Ted Stephens and Jarrad Struthers at 16:33, then Rob Slaney scored at 17:31 from Jagger Dirk and Eric Locke.
UNB outshot the X-Men 16-6 in the second period.
The X-Men were unable to solve Varsity Reds goaltender David Shantz as they managed only one shot on goal in the third period.
Francis Beauvillier (from Jordan Murray and Boudens) scored the insurance marker for UNB, shorthanded 3:07 into the third period, while Taylor MacDougall rounded out the scoring with another shorthanded goal with 1:04 left to play. Boudens assisted on the final V-Reds goal.
Emotions were high again at the end of the game as more pushing and shoving ensued, along with a pair of offsetting roughing penalties.
X-Men netminder Drew Owsley had a busy night in nets as UNB outshot the X-Men 42-16. The third year goalie had 37 saves.
The X-Men will next see action on Wednesday, October 22nd when they host the defending AUS champion Acadia Axemen (3-0-0) at the Charles V. Keating Centre. Game time is 7:00 pm.