X-Men hand REDS first loss in 57 games

FREDERICTON, NB - The STFX X-Men extinguished the UNB REDS' hopes of another undefeated season on Friday, claiming a hard-fought 4-3 victory in overtime at UNB's Aitken Centre.

Raegan Wiles (Calgary, AB) was the overtime hero for the X-Men, scoring less than a minute into extra time. Wiles was named Tim Hortons Player of the Game.

In the first period, REDS' forwards Emmett Sproule (Collingwood, ON) and Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) scored back-to-back goals in rapid succession to give UNB an early 2-0 lead.

STFX's Colby Saganiuk (Pittsburgh, PA) put X on the board 14:31 into the first, making it a 2-1 game.

It was Ryan Struthers (Milton, ON) of the X-Men who tied it up at 12:02 of the second period. Jacob Stewart (Antigonish, NS) picked up his second assist of the evening on the goal.

With 33 seconds remaining in the period, an Alex Christopoulos (Richmond Hill, ON) power play goal gave STFX the lead.

X-Men netminder Patrick Leaver (Perth, ON) was a key part of X's win against the highest-scoring team in the AUS. He stopped 17 REDS shots in the second period and 51 in total.

It was the first time this season that UNB trailed in the third period.

The REDS' answer came on a power play midway through the third, as Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) snuck the puck past Leaver on a rebound.

Despite a 21-2 shots on goal advantage in the third, the REDS couldn't close it out in regulation.

Tonight's loss was UNB's first since March 7^th, 2023, ending a 57-game winning streak, including regular season, post-season and exhibition games.

UNB still holds first place in the AUS standings at 6-0-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL).

Their next challenge comes tomorrow afternoon against Dalhousie, at 4:00pm at the Aitken Centre.

STFX, now 3-4-0-0, visits Moncton on Saturday. Game time is 7:00pm.

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RECAP BY: Peter Jewett/for UNB Athletics