Halifax, NS - The AUS first place and CIS ranked No. 5 Saint Mary's Huskies (13-4-0) defeated the St. Francis Xavier X-Women (7-8-2) by a 3-2 margin in AUS women's hockey action Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena.

The X-Women got on the board first when Schyler Campbell (Galloway, NB) scored an unassisted goal from the slot at 10:40 of the first period to take a 1-0 lead.

The Huskies immediately responded when Subway player of the game Caitlyn Schell (Waterford, ON) tallied from the slot at 11:27 to tie things up at 1-1. Carly Gray (Williamswood, NS) and Caitlyn Manning (Cambridge, ON) had the helpers as the score remained deadlocked after the first period with shots favoring the X-Women at 9-7.

In the second period, the Huskies took the lead when Breanna Lanceleve (Middle Sackville, NS) potted a marker from the circle at 3:18 unassisted.

Saint Mary's extended their lead to 3-1 when Manning scored off a rebound from the circle at 10:56 from Schell and Nicole Blanche (Dunville, NF).

The X-Women got one back when Connor Garagan (Fredericton, NB) tallied off a shorthanded breakaway (unassisted) at 16:50 to make it 3-2 after two periods. The Huskies held a 7-6 edge in shots in the middle frame.

In the third period, neither team found the back of the net, as the Huskies held off the X-Women for the win, despite the visitors registering numerous scoring chances.

The Huskies and X-Women ended up tied in shots on goal at 23-23. Rebecca Clark (Keswick, ON) made 21 saves to get the win in nets for the Huskies. Sojung Shin (Seoul, South Korea) stopped 20 shots in goal for StFX.

Both teams are back on the ice tomorrow in AUS action. The Huskies visit the Mount Allison Mounties (8-9-0) at 2:15 pm in Sackville, NS, while the X-Women host the Dalhousie Tigers (7-9-1) at 2:00 pm at the Charles V. Keating Centre in Antigonish, NS.