Tigers drop exhibition game to StFX

Antigonish, NS – The StFX X-Women skated to a 7-2 victory over the Dalhousie Tigers in pre-season exhibition play Friday night at the Keating Centre. 

The home team got out to a 3-1 first period lead as goals came from Lea MacLeod, Lindsey Donovan and Chloe Vukosa. MacLeod opened the scoring just 2:25 into the game then Donovan gave them an early 2-0 advantage two and a half minutes later with an unassisted marker. 

The Tigers closed the gap with a goal off the stick of Keana Oshowy but freshman StFX forward Vukosa regained the StFX two-goal lead midway through the period.  

Shots favoured the X-Women 11-7 in the opening period. 

The teams then exchanged second period goals. Kate Gotaas scored for StFX 1:28 into the period and Natalie Stanwood replied for the Tigers late in the period with less than a minute to play.  

With a 10-6 shot advantage in the middle period the X-Women held a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes. 

They then scored three unanswered third period goals for the run-away victory. Emerson Elliott and Jaydan Thompson scored within a minute and half, with Thompson's goal coming on the man-advantage.  

Tyra Meropoulis also scored on the power play for the X-Women to round out the goals, as seven different X-Women were recorded on the scoresheet. Donovan had a three point game with a goal and two assists. 

Final shots were 37-19 for X as Cassidy McEwan earned the win between the pipes. 

Kaelyn Budden (11 saves) and Fabiana Petricca (nine saves) split the time in the Tigers net. 

The three stars in the game went to StFX's Donovan, followed by Gotaas and Oshowy. 

StFX will be back on the ice Saturday as they travel to Charlottetown for an exhibition game against UPEI.