The CIS ranked No. 4 X-Women hockey team picked up a pair of wins on the road this weekend as AUS regular season resumed for the New Year. Sunday afternoon in Sackville, NB StFX defeated Mount Allison 2-0, while they earned a 2-1 win over UPEI Saturday afternoon in Charlottetown.
Saturday’s win over the Panthers was a close one for the second place X-Women over the fourth place Panthers team. Leah Boucher opened the scoring in the game with a first period goal for StFX at the 10:13 mark. Jessica McCullough and Daniela Falconio assisted on the play which was the only scoring in the first period.
Brittney Perkins increased the StFX lead to 2-0 with a second period marker from Sadie Whaley at 8:19. Samantha Sweet pulled the Panthers back to within one goal at 11:04 of the third period. Jessie-Anne Howard and Amber Gaudette picked up assists. Sweet’s goal would be the only one for the home team as the X-Women were able to hang on for the 2-1 victory, despite being outshot 29-23 by the Panthers. Kristy Dobson took the loss in nets for UPEI while Katie Greenway picked up the win for StFX with 22 saves on goal.
In Sunday’s 3-0 shutout over Mount Allison, Kristy Garrow earned the win for StFX with 25 saves as the X-Women outshot the Mounties 44-25. Megan Corley-Byrne posted 41 saves in a losing effort for Mount Allison.
The X-Women scored a goal per period in the victory. Alex Normore opened the scoring with a first period goal at 10:51 from Janelle Parent and Brittney Perkins. Nicole Hansom notched a second period marker at 12:26 with Abygail Laking and Molly MacDonald assisting, then Daniela Falconio rounded out the StFX scoring at 10:20 of the third period. Erin Brophy and Leah Boucher assisted on the play.
With the four point weekend, the X-Women (11-2-0) pull into a first place tie with Moncton (11-1-0). Next on the schedule for StFX is a pair of games on January 13th and 14th. Friday night, Jan. 13th the X-Women will travel to Halifax to play the Dalhousie Tigers (4-7-2), while on Saturday afternoon StFX will host Saint Mary’s (1-10-1) in a 2:00 pm game at the StFX Keating Centre.