Eustace scores in 4-1 loss to X-Women

Antigonish, NS - The U SPORTS No. 7 ranked STFX X-Women defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 4-1 on Wednesday night at the Charles V Keating Centre.  

STFX controlled much of the play early, peppering Dalhousie goaltender Maggie Baxter (Mahone Bay, NS) with plenty of shots and denying the Tigers much time on offence.  

X-Women defender and Subway Player of the game Josie Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) opened the scoring about half way through the first period, with a shot through a screen, with Lea MacLeod (Dartmouth, NS) and second star Ella VandeSompel (London, ON) assisting.  

STFX forward and third star on the night Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) added to her AUS league leading total four minutes later with an unassisted breakaway marker while shorthanded, her fourth goal of the season while down a player.  

Burbidge almost added another a few minutes later but Baxter came up with a big save, keeping the score 2-0 for STFX heading to the locker room at first intermission. 

Shots at the end of the period were 14-7 in favor of the X-Women. 

Things got a little rough in the second period, with both teams making a number of trips to the penalty box. The pace slowed down a bit in the early part of the period, but STFX still controlled much of the play. STFX athlete of the Week Lauren Dabrowski (Tiny, ON) made it a 3-0 game about halfway through the period, banging in a rebound on the powerplay, with MacLeod and Burbidge assisting.  

However, Dalhousie replied a few minutes later with a power play marker of their own, with Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB) knocking one in off a scramble, as Kennedy Whelan (Alliston, ON) got the helper.  

Shots at the end of the second period were 27-13 in favour of STFX as they held onto the 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. 

STFX was first on the scoreboard again in the third, with Ellie Brown (Kemptville, ON) hitting the net shortly after a face-off in the Dalhousie end with about five minutes gone.   

Baxter continued to come up with big stops, while her counterpart STFX goaltender Jamie Johnson (Victoria, BC) also had a strong game, making saves when called upon.  

The X-Women found themselves down two players late in the period but were about to keep the doors shut. Burbidge had another shorthanded breakaway with three minutes left but Baxter made the denial.  

Shots at the end of the game were 35-20, with Baxter making 31 saves on the night, and Johnson making 19. 

The X-Women will wrap up AUS regular season action on Friday night with a home game against the Mount Allison Mounties. They have clinched second place in the AUS standings, earning them a first round bye and a berth directly into the best-of-5 AUS semifinal round.  

Tonight's game marked the final one on the regular season schedule for the Tigers who finish the season in fifth place with a 13-10-1-4 record. They will await their opponent for their upcoming best-of-3 AUS quarter-final series, either UPEI or Saint Mary's. 

The AUS playoffs are set to begin on either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week with the full schedule being announced on Sunday, Feb. 12th.