Marcus Power was credited with the game-winner at 4:45 of overtime as UPEI swept the best-of-three quarterfinal series from the Axemen in two straight games.
Acadia trailed 3-1 midway through the second period, but turned in a strong effort for the remainder of regulation time and into overtime.
Chance Braid opened the scoring for the Axemen at 8:53 of the first period, assisted by Geoff Schemitsch.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Brent Andrews got the Panthers on the board at 12:18. UPEI then took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission on Sam Aulie's goal at 19:05.
In the second period, the Panthers extended their lead to 3-1, Ryan MacKinnon scoring at 5:34 on a UPEI power play.
Facing an early and shocking end to their season, the Axemen dug deep, and narrowed the deficit to one on Brett Cote's even-strength goal at 11:05, assisted by Boston Leier and Remi Giftopoulos. It remained 3-2 UPEI after 40 minutes.
In the third period, the Axemen continued to apply pressure and were rewarded when Kyle Farrell scored the tying goal, an unassisted effort at the 6:25 mark.
Acadia successfully killed off a penalty late in the period, then went on its first power play of the evening with 1:38 to play. There was, however, no further scoring in regulation time, and overtime would be required to decide the verdict.
The extra session was fairly even, with UPEI outshooting Acadia by a 3-2 margin.
The closeness of the game was illustrated by the final shots on goal, which ended up at 31 apiece. Andrews, who originally got credit for the game-winner, Aulie and MacKinnon all finished with a goal and an assist for the Panthers.
While the season is over for the Axemen, UPEI advances to play UNB in the semi-final round with a berth at the CIS University Cup awaiting the winner of that series.
Marcus Power was credited with the game-winner at 4:45 of overtime as UPEI swept the best-of-three quarterfinal series from the Axemen in two straight games.
Acadia trailed 3-1 midway through the second period, but turned in a strong effort for the remainder of regulation time and into overtime.
Chance Braid opened the scoring for the Axemen at 8:53 of the first period, assisted by Geoff Schemitsch.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Brent Andrews got the Panthers on the board at 12:18. UPEI then took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission on Sam Aulie's goal at 19:05.
In the second period, the Panthers extended their lead to 3-1, Ryan MacKinnon scoring at 5:34 on a UPEI power play.
Facing an early and shocking end to their season, the Axemen dug deep, and narrowed the deficit to one on Brett Cote's even-strength goal at 11:05, assisted by Boston Leier and Remi Giftopoulos. It remained 3-2 UPEI after 40 minutes.
In the third period, the Axemen continued to apply pressure and were rewarded when Kyle Farrell scored the tying goal, an unassisted effort at the 6:25 mark.
Acadia successfully killed off a penalty late in the period, then went on its first power play of the evening with 1:38 to play. There was, however, no further scoring in regulation time, and overtime would be required to decide the verdict.
The extra session was fairly even, with UPEI outshooting Acadia by a 3-2 margin.
The closeness of the game was illustrated by the final shots on goal, which ended up at 31 apiece. Andrews, who originally got credit for the game-winner, Aulie and MacKinnon all finished with a goal and an assist for the Panthers.
While the season is over for the Axemen, UPEI advances to play UNB in the semi-final round with a berth at the CIS University Cup awaiting the winner of that series.
