Halifax, NS – The CIS ranked No. 7 X-Women closed out AUS regular season play with a 6-1 loss to the Dalhousie Tigers Saturday night at the Forum. It was the third consecutive loss for StFX after a 21 game win streak and marked the first time this season they have given up more than three goals in a game.
Despite the loss the X-Women close out the season in first place with a 20-4-0 record, earning a first round bye in the upcoming AUS playoffs. The Tigers (9-12-2) are in fifth place with one game remaining Wednesday night at Mount Allison.
The Tigers came out roaring to the first period, holding their own against the X-Women. Marita Alfieri scored the first goal of the game at the 10:10 mark, from Elizabeth MacArthur. The X-Women countered back shortly after and just missed the net, slapping one off the crossbar.
With under a minute left in the period Sarah Robichaud snuck another past StFX goaltender Pascale Daigle to strengthen the Tigers lead to 2-0 entering the second period. Victoria MacIntosh assisted on the play as the Tigers outshot the X-Women 18-10 in the opening frame.
Maggie Beaton added another goal for the Tigers at the 6:08 mark, off a Morgen Kidney pass. StFX contested the goal as Beaton had crashed the goal crease and X were looking for an interference call, though the goal stood and the Tigers took a 3-0 lead.
Dalhousie went up 4-0 at the 9:53 mark on a power play goal from MacIntosh. Jennifer Thompson had the lone helper.
The X-Women were unable to convert on a four minute power play advantage, instead Subway player of the game Alfieri scored shorthanded at 13:40, giving the Tigers a five-goal advantage. Robichaud and Courtney Sheedy picked up assists as Daigle was replaced in the StFX net by Sojung Shin.
StFX outshot the Tigers 19-10 in the second period but were unable to find the back of the net.
In the third period, freshman forward Sarah Bujold finally got the X-Women on the board, snapping Tigers netminder Jessica Severeyns of a shutout. Lisa Downey set Bujold up at 13:02.
Kidney scored the second power play goal of the night for the Tigers from Thompson at 16:54.
Severeyns made 38 saves for the Tigers who outshot the X-Women 42-39. Daigle had 23 saves in the losing effort for StFX and Shin turned aside 13 shots.
The Tigers are back in action at Mount Allison on Wednesday to close out AUS regular season play. The result of this game will determine playoff opponents for the opening quarter-final series.
StFX and Moncton receive first round playoff byes, awaiting the quarter-final winners for a best 2-of-3 semi-final series the week of Feb. 23-28.