Antigonish, NS – The STFX X-Women defeated the UNB Reds 3-2 in a shootout Saturday evening at the Charles V. Keating Centre.
X-Women forward Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) scored the shootout winner, as the Reds lost their first game early in the AUS season.
The game was a penalty-laden affair that saw both squads with 41 shots aside in a battle of two of the top teams in the AUS conference.
The Reds had back-to-back power play chances early in the first period but the X-Women penalty kill held them off. Burbidge broke in shorthanded for the X-Women but was taken down by a Reds defender. The ensuing man-advantage for X did not result in any solid chances for the home squad.
UNB's Emma Giordano (Ancaster, ON) had a great scoring chance midway through the period as she fired off a puck from point blank range in the slot but X goalkeeper Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) was up for the task.
McKiya Mazur (Russell, MB) had X's best chance when she broke in alone on Reds goalie Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) but was stopped by the veteran netminder.
The period was an undisciplined one with 18 penalty minutes being assessed.
Reds forward Lillian George (Garden Village, ON) nearly scored late in the period on a breakaway attempt but shot high of the X net.
The X-Women held a slim 12-11 shot advantage after 20 minutes as the game remained scoreless.
The second period featured high-flying action with both teams exchanging numerous scoring chances. UNB's Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) rang one off he post midway through the period, and on the ensuing play up ice STFX forward Landyn Pitts (Antigonish, NS) broke in alone on Woodland but shot it wide of the goal.
Myah Bowal (Terrace, BC) was stopped on the breakaway attempt by Giraudier, but it was Giordano who finally broke the goose egg and potted UNB's first goal of the game at 9:14 of the second period. Her low shot while on the power play went past a screened Giraudier as Frederike Cyr (Candiac, QC) and Jenna MacLean (Wilcox, SK) assisted.
The penalties for both sides continued in the middle frame. The X-Women had several key shots while on the man-advantage but couldn't solve Woodland.
Another 16 penalty minutes were dished out in the second period.
X-Women forward Anna MacCara (Trenton, NS) tied things up with 1:29 left in the period as she skated into the Reds open slot area, taking a nice feed from Pitts who had worked the puck around the boards and out front.
Shots were 28-24 for X after 40 minutes with the 1-1 deadlock on the scoreboard.
STFX started the third period on the power play and they wasted no time as Lauren Dabrowski (Tiny, ON) blasted a shot from the point through traffic just 14 seconds into play, beating a screened Woodland up high.
The lead didn't last long however as Bowal evened things up at 2:45 for the Reds. After Alayna Wagstaff (Olds, AB) won a face-off inside the X zone, Bowal picked up the loose puck and fired off a quick shot past Giraudier.
Both teams pressured for the equalizer and exchanged power play opportunities later in the period but to no avail as the score remained tied 2-2 at the end of regulation play.
The Reds were assessed a roughing penalty 20 seconds into the five-minute overtime period but their penalty kill units came up big and kept the X-Women off the board.
Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) nearly ended it for the Reds in OT on a breakaway but was stoned by Giraudier.
In the ensuing shootout, two of three shooters from each team scored, forcing a sudden death shootout situation. After Giraudier stopped Lillian George (Garden Village, ON) low with a pad save, Burbidge netted the winner on a high shot that beat Woodland glove side.
Giraudier was named third star of the game, posting 39 saves for the win between the pipes for X. Woodland, with 38 saves was the game's second star.
Subway Player of the Game honours went to STFX's Maggy Burbidge who scored her league-leading fifth goal of the season.
UNB (3-0-1) will next be in action next Friday night, October 22nd when they host the Aigles Bleues de Moncton in Fredericton.
The X-Women (3-1-0) will face-off against the same Aigles Bleues squad on Saturday evening, October 23rd in Moncton.
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Courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Sports Information
Maggy Burbidge nets the SO winner & takes home Subway Player of the Game for her efforts in the X-Women's 3-2 win over UNB! #goxgo #subwayfuel pic.twitter.com/uWuFKJwAcn
— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) October 17, 2021