The X-Women hockey team split a pair of games this weekend as the AUS season opened regular season play. Friday evening in Charlottetown they dropped a 2-1 game to UPEI, then followed up with a 4-2 victory over Moncton Saturday afternoon.
Against the Aigles Bleues, the teams traded leads in the game before Taylor Dale's goal with just over three minutes to play in the third period proved to be the decider.
Her goal at 16:54 was assisted by Nicole Hallady and Nicole Corcoran. An empty net goal while shorthanded, also scored by the X-Women captain Dale gave the X-Women the 4-2 win.
After a scoreless first period, Kaithlyn Gallaway opened the scoring in the game for Moncton 2:46 into the second period. Roxanne Turcotte and Marika Lacroix assisted.
Veteran fifth year X-Women defense Jenna Downey tied the game at 13:22 of the second, from Power and Dale as StFX outshot the Aigles Bleues 28-13 through 40 minutes of play.
Daley Oddy gave the X-Women their first lead of the game, scoring 31 seconds into the third period while on the power play. Downey and Schyler Campbell had the helpers.
The Aigles Bleues fought back, however, as Gallaway scored her second goal of the game unassisted while on the power play at 14:33.
Power's game winning goal came just over two minutes later.
Sojung Shin earned her first win of the AUS season in nets for StFX with 22 saves. The X-Women outshot the Aigles Bleues 37-24.
Émilie Bouchard had 33 saves in the losing effort for Moncton.
Friday night in Charlottetown, the UPEI Panthers won a close 2-1 game over the X-Women.
After a scoreless first period, Madison Clarke put the Panthers on the board at 7:27 of the second period as Lindsay Johnston contributed an assist on the play.
The Panthers increased their lead to 2-0 when Teagan Pringle scored at 9:35 of the third, from Cornelia Geib.
The X-Women made it a one goal lead with a Jenna Downey goal at 15:00 (assisted by Emma Winters and Alex Normore), but fell short in their comeback attempt.
Shots ended 24-19 in favor of the X-Women. Pascale Daigle took the loss for X with 17 saves while Marie-Soleil Deschenes picked up the win for the Panthers.
The X-Women will next see action on Friday, October 24th when they host the Dalhousie Tigers in their home opener. Game time is 7:00 pm at the Charles V. Keating Centre.