Axemen win close 2-1 game over X-Men in deciding Game 3

Wolfville, NS - The Acadia Axemen are moving on to the AUS semifinals after a tense 2-1 win over the visiting STFX X-Men on Sunday night in Game 3 of their best-of-five quarterfinal playoff series.

Boston Pizza Player of the Game Justin DeZoete netted the game winning goal late in the third period to clinch the game and series for the Axemen, who now move on to face the Moncton Aigles Bleus. 

Acadia controlled the opening period, firing 20 shots at the STFX net while holding the visitors to five. Goalie Patrick Leaver continued his strong playoff run for STFX, and kept things even heading into the first intermission. 

The X-Men came out of the break with some jump, with both teams trying to get the opening break. The heavy hitting from the first two games carried over, though there was only one penalty in the opening 40 minutes.  

Acadia opened the scoring late in the second period, with Bailey Peach hitting twine with a wrist shot from the slot off a Liam Kidney pass, with Zak Lavoie also assisting.

STFX had the momentum early in the third, killing off a penalty before Raegan Wiles snapped a shot to the top corner to tie things up. Charlie Callaghan and Ryan McGuire had the helpers.  

Both teams fought to pull ahead but with five minutes left, DeZoete got the home crowd on their feet, one-timing a pass from Lavoie and Cole Nagy.

STFX pulled Leaver from the net late in the game in favor of the extra attacker to press for the equalizer but Acadia held on for the win.

Leaver finished with 43 stops for STFX while Thomas Couture made 30 saves for the Acadia win. 

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