X-Women outlast Aigles Bleues for 3-1 victory

Photo credit Albert Banahene
Photo credit Albert Banahene

Antigonish, NS – The StFX X-Women defeated the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues 3-1 Saturday evening at the Charles V. Keating Centre. The X-Women avenged a 4-0 loss to the same Moncton squad two weeks ago.

The teams were held scoreless in the first period, playing a fairly even opening 20 minutes. Moncton was unable to score on a pair of power play opportunities and StFX had an 11-8 advantage in shots.

The home team got on the board first as Lindsey Donovan (Mirimichi, NB) tallied at 13:47. After circling with the puck in the Moncton zone to the top of the slot, she unleashed a shot that beat Aigles Bleues netminder Audrey Berthiaume (St-Bruno, QC) between the legs. Lacey Dimaulo (Okotoks, AB) and Kristen McKinley (Rothesay, NB) assisted on the play.

The lead did not last long, however, as Jessica Bouchard (Richelieu, QC) replied for the Aigles Bleues just 25 seconds later. After Moncton did a good job of keeping the puck inside the StFX zone, Bouchard tipped in a point shot from Elizabeth Tremblay (Saguenay, QC) that went through the legs of Carley Molnar (London, ON) and into the X net.

The 1-1 tie held up until the end of the second period as the X-Women held the edge in scoring opportunities in the middle frame, outshooting the Aigles Bleues 11-3.

StFX continued to dominate in the third period, holding the Aigles to only one shot in the final 20 minutes of play.

Veteran fourth year forward Lydia Schurman (Summerside, PE) scored the game winning goal just over six minutes into the third period. While the X-Women were on the power play, Donovan unleashed a booming shot and Schurman was set in front of the Moncton for the tip-in. Emily Power (Airdrie, AB) also picked up a helper on the play.

Power then put the game away with an empty goal for X with only two seconds left on the game clock. Captain Sarah Bujold (Riverview, NB) assisted as the X-Women outshot the Aigles Bleues 8-1 in the final period en route to the win.

Schurman picked up first star and Subway player of the game honours. Moncton goalie Berthiaume - with 27 saves in the game - was the second star and X-Women defense Amy Graham (Nepean, ON) was the third star.

Molnar picked up her ninth win of the season in the StFX net, facing only 12 shots in the game.

The X-Women improve to 14-5-3 on the season and currently sit in second place, four points behind St. Thomas (17-4-1). They will next see action on Saturday, January 26th when they travel to Sackville, N.B. to face Mount Allison.

The sixth place Aigles Bleues (10-11-1) travel to Fredericton on Friday, Jan. 25th to take on the first place Tommies.

-30-

Courtesy StFX Sports Information