The X-Women hockey team began pre-season exhibition play this past weekend in Kingston, Ont. at the Queen's Invitational tournament. In three games the defending AUS champions and CIS bronze medalists were held winless.
The X-Women were defeated by defending CIS champions Montreal (6-1), the host and defending OUA champ Queen's Gaels (3-1) and Wilfrid Laurier (6-1) over the course of three days.
Queen's, Montreal and Laurier all finished the weekend with 2-1 records.
StFX head coach David Synishin commented, "This type of competition shows our first year players, and is a reminder for our returning players, what it takes to compete at the national level."
"The weekend was extremely beneficial for us and will only make us better."
In StFX's opening game against Montreal, the Carabins got out to a 1-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes of play then scored three in the second period, including one of the power play, to increase that lead to 4-0.
A second power play goal five minutes into the third gave them a commanding 5-0 lead.
X-Women forward and New Glasgow, NS native Kara Power, a transfer from Minnesota State, scored her first goal in the blue and white uniform and broke the goose egg at 16:02 of the final period. The power play goal was assisted by Alex Normore and Jenna Pitts.
The Carabins closed out with the game with one final goal with three minutes remaining.
X-Women freshman goaltender Sojung Shin from Seoul, Korea faced 36 shots on goal in the losing effort. StFX had 29 shots in the game.
In their second game against Queen's, the X-Women again found themselves in a hole early on as the Gaels scored two first period goals.
The teams were held scoreless in the second period then Normore cut the lead in half with a goal for the X-Women 3:58 into the third period. Power assisted.
Shwana Griffen scored the insurance marker for the Gaels with just under three minutes left to play as the game finished 3-1 in their favor.
The X-Women outshot the Gaels 25-16. Freshman netminder Pascale Daigle from Irishtown, NB was tagged with the loss for StFX.
In their final tournament game, the X-Women fell 6-1 to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.
Laurier scored five unanswered goals, two with the extra attacker, in the opening two periods of play.
Power got the X-Women on the board at 16:41 of the second period while on the power play. Normore and Daley Oddy had the helpers.
The Golden Hawks final goal came at 13:45 of the third period. Shin took the loss in goal for the X-Women, as shots were even at 30 apiece for each squad.
The X-Women will look to regroup as they face a familiar AUS foe in the UPEI Panthers in a pair of home exhibition matches.
StFX will host UPEI on Saturday at 4:00 pm, following by a Sunday matinee at 12:00 pm. Both games will be played in the Keating Centre auxiliary arena.