X-Women beat Tigers 2-1

Recap Written by Matt Draper, STFX Athletics

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX X-Women hockey picked up their second win of the weekend on Sunday afternoon with a close 2-1 victory over the visiting Dalhousie Tigers. The win moved the X-Women into second place in the AUS women's hockey standings, just two points behind UNB, who have played two more games than the X-Women.  

Following an outstanding performance on Friday night against UNB on Saturday night, STFX forward Anna MacCara (Yellowknife, NWT) opened the scoring on Sunday afternoon with a powerplay marker with about five minutes left to play in the first period. MacCara picked the short-side top corner with a shot from the faceoff circle, with assists going to Vivian Hinch (Vancouver, BC) and Ella Vandesompel (London, ON).  

Maggy Burbidge, (Falmouth, NS) who also put in a solid weekend on the ice, doubled the home teams' lead about a minute later, picking up a Kamdyn Switzer (Stittsville, ON) pass at the X blueline, and breaking in alone before lifting one high. Shots at the end of the first period were 19-6 in favour of STFX as the home team took the 2-0 lead into the locker room first intermission. 

It was a slower paced second period with neither team able to get on the scoreboard. STFX continued to buzz about the Dalhousie net and Tigers' goalie Grace Beer (Oakville, ON) made some big saves to keep the lead at two. On the other end, STFX goalie Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) continued to keep the Tigers at bay. Shots at the end of the second period were 39-9 in favour of STFX.   

Spurred on by Beer's top-notch play, the Tigers cut the STFX lead in half about mid-way through the period, with Alix Yallowega (Winnipeg, MB) getting a drop pass from Emma Bishop (Bedford, NS) and firing one to the back of the net.  

Dalhousie almost tied the game with two minutes left to play, but the puck hit the cross bar and Giraudier stopped the rebound chance. The Tigers pulled Beer with 90 seconds left while on the powerplay, but the STFX penalty kill came up big and the game ended 2-1.  

Shots at the end of the game were 49-24 in favour of the home team.  

Beer, who picked up second star honours, had 47 saves while picking up the loss, while Giraudier made 23 saves in the winning effort. Burbidge's game winning goal earned her first star and player of the game, while Switzer picked up third star honours.  

The X-Women are on the road for their next game on November 24, when they will visit Moncton. Dalhousie will host Saint Mary's on Wednesday night. Both games are at 7 p.m.