Beer backstops Tigers to win over STFX
Grace Beer made 36 saves in the Tigers 4-1 win over the X-Women on Wednesday.
Antigonish, NS – The Dalhousie Tigers played a strong defensive game in a 4-1 victory over the STFX X-Women Wednesday night at the Charles V. Keating Centre.
Tigers forward Mackenzie Drake (Dartmouth, NS) opened the scoring in the game three minutes in. Casey Beisel (Kincardine, ON) took the puck all the way down ice, worked it in behind the STFX net then found Drake open in the slot, who made no mistake on the one-timer past X netminder Jorja Burrows (New Glasgow, NS).
The 1-0 Tigers lead held up through 20 minutes of play, despite the X-Women holding a 13-6 shot advantage.
The second period was fast paced and the home squad continued to generate more shots on goal but Dalhousie goaltender Grace Beer (Oakville, ON) held her ground. Neither team found twine in the middle period.
STFX had a 29-9 shot advantage after 40 but continued to trail by a goal.
They continued to press for the equalizer in the third period. Ashlyn Garnett (Dartmouth, NS) tipped a Landyn Pitts (Antigonish, NS) shot and hit the crossbar midway through the period.
The X-Women also had chances on the powerplay but the Tigers penalty kill held strong.
Bree MacPherson (Antigonish, NS) finally broke through with 5:26 left in the third period when she scored on a shot from the point off a pass from Pitts.
The Tigers stormed right back and regained their lead 43 seconds later with a goal off the stick of Jill Imeson (Perth, ON). She potted a rebound after Burrows made the initial save off a 2-on-1 play by Regan Duffy (Burlington, ON) and Mollie Power (Bay Roberts, NL).
Abby Wamboldt (Hammonds Plains, NS) then tallied an insurance marker for the Tigers, scoring on her own rebound.
Lexie Small (Grand Falls, NL) rounded out the scoring with an empty netter.
Final shots in the game were 37-15 for the X-Women as Beer made 36 saves in the winning effort for Dalhousie, picking up first star and player of the game honours.
Wamboldt was the second star and STFX defense Mackenzie Lothian (Alliston, ON) was the third star.
Both teams are back in action on Saturday night. The X-Women will host Saint Mary's while the Tigers are at home against Mount Allison.