X-Women beat Moncton in marathon shoot-out

It took 16 shooters, but the X-Women hockey team pulled off a 3-2 overtime/shootout victory over the first place Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleues Sunday afternoon at the StFX Keating Centre.

X-Women rookie defense Leah Boucher fired the game winner past Aigles Bleues netminder Kathy Desjardins to seal the win for the X-Women in the marathon shoot-out.

After the first five shooters, the game remained tied as both the Aigles Bleues and X-Women each scored two goals a piece. Brayden Ferguson, the second shooter for X narrowly slid the puck past Desjardins for a goal, then Moncton’s third shooter Johannie Thibeault beat StFX goalkeeper Melissa Murphy to tie the game again. Catie Gavin put the X-Women ahead but Moncton’s fifth and final shooter Genevieve David deeked Murphy to score and once again deadlock the game.

After each team went through another 10 shooters a side and no goals were scored, the final eligible shooters took their crack at it and after a Murphy save on the 16th Aigles Bleues attempt, Leah Boucher scored the winner for X, ending the suspension. 

The shootout was a testament to the close play of both teams throughout the game as goals were few and far between. Jessica Shanahan opened the scoring 4:38 into the game for StFX with a powerplay goal, assisted by Brayden Ferguson and Lindsay Brown.

Marie-Helene Plourde tied the game with an even-strength goal for Moncton late in the first period and then scored the go-ahead goal with less then three minutes remaining in the second frame, on the powerplay.

Christina Davis notched the tying marker for the X-Women on the opening play of the third period, just 13 seconds in. Marilynn Hay and Jessica Shanahan assisted on the play.

Each team had a powerplay opportunity in the overtime period but the game remained tied through to the dramatic shootout.

The game marks the second consecutive shoot-out game between StFX and Moncton, and the second one in which the X-Women have come out on top, as they earned a previous 2-1 shootout win in Moncton on Jan. 11th.

The X-Women improve their record to 12-3-1 and remain in sole possession of second place with 25 points, 7 back of the first place Aigles Bleues. Both StFX and Moncton have clinched a playoff spot.

The X-Women will host the 5th place Saint Mary’s Huskies (3-10-2) on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm at the Keating Centre, then  travel to Halifax Friday night for a game against the 4th place Dalhousie Tigers (9-7-1).