ANTIGONISH, NS - In a battle of top-ten teams in the CIS, the StFX X-Women (2-2) skated to a 3-2 victory over the Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleues (2-1) Sunday afternoon at the StFX Keating Centre.
Both goaltenders - Gabrielle Forget (Joliette, QC) of Moncton and Pascale Daigle (Irishtown, NB) of StFX - were stellar in a match-up of conference finalists from last season.
Moncton opened the scoring at the 9:42 mark of the first period when Marie-Pier Corriveau (Magog, QC) ripped a hard shot high under the crossbar. Kathrine Dubuc (Victoriaville, QC) notched the lone assist.
Late in the first period, at 18:23, the X-Women tied the match-up, with Nicole Corcoran (Bloomfield, PEI) sneaking in the back door off the blue line to convert a cross-ice pass from team captain Taylor Dale (Oromocto, NB). Freshman Alley Goodreau (Airdrie, AB) had the other assist on the power play goal, which came with 1:37 remaining until intermission.
Special teams helped the X-Women take their first lead in the second period, when Daley Oddy (Cranbrook, BC) scored her first of two goals. The junior forward deposited a rebound from a point blast from fifth-year senior defender Jenna Pitts (Antigonish, NS) behind Forget. Kara Power (New Glasgow, NS) provided the other helper.
Just after a Moncton power-play expired, before the X-Women player made it back into the action from the penalty box, the visitors made it 2-2 with eight seconds remaining in the second period. Captain Marie-Pier Arsenault (Bonaventure, QC) batted in a rebound from close quarters, with assists going to Kaitlyn Gallaway (Stratford, PEI) and Jodie Dupere (Campbellton, NB).
After pressing for several minutes, the X-Women scored the game-winner at the 12:37 mark of the third period. Oddy beat Forget after gathering a puck that re-directed off a Moncton defender. Nicole Halladay (Smith's Falls, ON) had an assist on the tally.
Oddy was named the Subway player of the game and first star. The second and third stars, respectively, were Corcoran and Gallaway.
Daigle made 19 saves for the win, while Forget turned aside 28 shots in the loss.
Moncton will be back in action Wednesday, Oct. 28, when they travel to Sackville, NB, to face the Mount Allison Mounties in a 7 p.m. start.
StFX will hit the road next weekend for a New Brunswick swing, which will feature games versus the St. Thomas Tommies (Sat., Oct. 31) and Moncton (Sun., Nov. 1).
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