X-Men drop close 5-4 game in shootout to Panthers

ANTIGONISH, NS - UPEI Panthers captain Ben McFarlane's lone shootout goal was the deciding factor in an exciting 5-4 win over the STFX X-Men at the Charles V Keating Centre on Friday night. 

The high tempo see-saw battle included both teams coming back from two-goals down, plenty of chances, and big saves at both ends of the ice. Gabriel Pizza Player of the Game Ryan McGuire had a goal and an assist for STFX, while second star Elias Cohen had two goals for the visitors. 

STFX freshman and third star Dominick Godin opened the scoring for the X-Men just 2:25 into the game, breaking in solo after blocking a UPEI point shot and sliding one home for his sixth goal of the season. 

Fellow first year forward Lucas Canning made it 2-0 four minutes later, capitalizing on a loose puck in the slot and one-timing a blast for the 10th marker of his freshman campaign.

Elias Cohen got one back for the Panthers, 10 minutes into the game, tipping home a point shot from Robert Orr. STFX goalie Jack Milner had a big stop in the final minute, and the teams headed into intermission with STFX up by one.    

Cohen tied things up three minutes into the second period, breaking in alone after a pass from Josh Currie. The Panthers continued to pepper Milner with shots, but the period ended with the score still even at 2-2. 

The Panthers jumped into the lead early in the third stanza, with Kieran Gallant notching his second shorthanded goal of the season, off a long pass from Cole Larkin. Patrick Leaver then took over goaltending duties for the X-Men, as Milner suffered an injury on the play. 

Currie made it a two-goal game three minutes later, one timing a pass from McFarlane and Gallant.

STFX defender Charlie Callaghan found the back of the net with a wrister from the slot off a pass from McGuire while on the powerplay three minutes later. 

McGuire then tied things up 10 minutes into the third, pouncing on a loose puck in the Panthers end and finding twine from in close. 

The rest of the period remained scoreless, as did overtime, thanks in part to some late stops from UPEI goalie Jakob Robillard, setting the table for McFarlane's shootout game winner. 

The X-Men play their final game before the holiday break Saturday, November 29, when they host the UNB REDS at 7 p.m. The Panthers continue their road trip when they visit the Dalhousie Tigers tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics