The Axemen have several big games, including a Jan. 21 road game against Saint Mary’s and home games against Moncton Jan. 23 and UNB Jan. 24. The second-place Axemen (16-4-1, 33 points) started the week three points behind first-place UNB (17-2-2) and four points ahead of third place Saint Mary’s (14-6-1) after sweeping a pair of weekend games from St. Thomas and UPEI.
Acadia topped the Tommies 6-1 Jan. 16, then doubled the Panthers 4-2 Jan. 17 to improve to 4-1 in the second half of their schedule.
Counting their three games this week, the Axemen have just seven regular season games left to play.
On Jan. 16, Acadia spotted St. Thomas an early 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by J.C. Laflamme at 13:09 of the first period, but the rest of the game was all Axemen.
Scott Trask tied the score at 14:30 and Zach Franko gave the Axemen the lead for good with a power play goal at 16:55.
Franko added his second of the game, the only goal of the second period, at 5:04, and briefly had his third, a power play goal in the opening minute of the third period with Acadia on a 5-on-3 power play, before the goal was given to Remi Giftopolous.
A power play goal by Mike Cazzola at 4:38 and a shorthanded marker by Travis Randell (playing forward this game) at 16:09 rounded out the scoring.
Franko ended up with two goals and an assist, Giftopolous a goal and two helpers, and Dan Poliziani and Chris Owens each had two assists.
Final shots on goal were 46-24 Acadia, and but for the play of Tommies’ goaltender Tyson Teichmann, the Axemen margin of victory might have been even higher.
Then, on Jan. 17, UPEI was in town looking to hand the Axemen a rare home loss, but it was not to be as Acadia skated to a 4-2 victory.
The first-year Axemen led the way, with Matt Pufahl, Boston Leier and Franko scoring single goals along with Cazzola. Leier and Cazzola had power play goals, while Pufahl’s goal was a shorthanded marker.
Darcy Ashley (on the power play) and Brent Andrews replied for the Panthers, who were outshot 42-28.
At the start of the week, Brett Thompson, who had two assists against UPEI, was second in conference scoring with 13 goals and 28 points. Cazzola was third at 12-15-27, and Franko fourth at 11-15-26, leading all AUHC rookies in scoring.
Acadia hoop teams swept at Cape Breton
The on-court woes continued for the Acadia basketball teams Jan. 17 at Cape Breton, with the Axewomen dropping a 93-57 decision and the Axemen losing 69-65.
The Axemen fell to 3-7 with their loss; the Axewomen were still winless at 0-10.
In the women’s game, Cape Breton took a 26-8 lead after one quarter, and though Acadia won the second quarter 22-21, they still trailed 47-30 at halftime. The Capers then won the third quarter 25-10 and the fourth 21-17.
Alison Keough finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds for Cape Breton. Colleen Keene added 22 points and nine boards, and Hannah Brown contributed 11 points.
Paloma Anderson had 14 points for Acadia. Tamara Dondi added 12 points off the bench, and Allie Berry finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
In the men’s game, the Axemen won the first quarter 15-14, lost the second 27-18, won the third 20-9, then lost the fourth 19-12 to lose by four points.
Meshack Lufile had 21 points and seven rebounds for Cape Breton. Seth Amoah added 13 points and Cedric Kasongo 10.
Sean Stoqua had 19 points for Acadia, but he was the only Axemen player in double figures. Kyle Arseneault, Shaquille Smith and Gianmarco Luciani had eight points apiece and Rhys Larry seven. Arseneault Larry and Smith each had seven rebounds.
Volleyball Axewomen top Cape Breton 3-1
The Axewomen volleyball team continues to inch up in the conference standings.
Acadia defeated Cape Breton three sets to one Jan. 17 in Sydney to improve to 3-9 on the season, good for a tie for fourth place.
In a competitive match, the Capers won the first set 25-23, but the Axewomen captured the next three, by scores of 25-22, 25-23, 25-21.
Second-year outside hitter Sarah Ross had 15 kills and 41 total attack points, while Jazmin Logue Prest had 11 kills, five service aces and 41 total attack points.
Prest got credit for 16 points, Ross 15, and Kaitlyn Franklin, Carlotta Frasca, Marissa Chin and Fiona McGuinty seven points each. Hillary Monette had 40 digs, and Olivia Boudreault had 30 assists.
The win was Acadia’s second in three matches since Christmas. The Axewomen are next in action Jan. 24, when they host UNB in a 3 p.m. start at War Memorial Gym.
