(Halifax, NS) – A three-goal second period helped the StFX X-Women top the Dalhousie Tigers 5-3 on Wednesday night at the Halifax Forum.
The two teams were aggressive on the fore check in the opening period and created numerous offensive chances, however both goalies were up to the task, keeping the game scoreless through 20 minutes.
The X-Women had two separate two-on-one opportunities in the first frame, but couldn't beat Dalhousie goalie Jessica Severeyns (Hammonds Plains, NS). Their second odd-woman rush in the final minute-and-a-half of play was their best opportunity.
Forward Daley Oddy (Cranbrooke, BC) was able to find her linemate Kara Power (New Glasgow, NS) crashing the net hard, but Severeyns made the quick left pad save.
Dalhousie's best chance occurred just over midway through the period, as forward Becca Chilvers (Bradford, ON) used her speed to create an open look from the right point, but was stymied by StFX goalie Ariana Orasanin (Ancaster, ON).
Both teams lit the lamp frequently in the second period, with a total of five goals being scored.
Blue-liner Santana Gravelle (Lumsden, SK) opened the scoring for the X-Women at 2:23, after her shot went off a Dalhousie helmet in front and found the back of the net.
The Tigers responded at 6:27, as forward Elizabeth MacArthur (Truro, NS) was able to get her stick on a shot from the right point to tie the game.
The speed picked up in the back half on the period, as both teams were able to generate odd-woman rushes, and tallied three combined goals just under five minutes apart.
The X-Women retook the lead at 10:40, as Oddy was able to steal the puck in the neutral zone and went five-hole on Severeyns on a partial breakaway.
Forward Sarah Bujold (Riverview, NB) made the score 3-1 for StFX just under two minutes later, as she crashed the net hard and got her stick on a pass from Oddy.
Dalhousie would narrow the visitors lead to one entering the final 20 minutes however, courtesy of forward Taylor Reichheld (Hagersville, ON), who was able to tip in a pass from Kayla Ogilvie (Pense, SK) at 15:14.
The Tigers pressured StFX early in the third, but were unable to net the tying goal. The visitors ultimately closed the game out at 15:04, as Forward Jenna MacDonald (Osgoode, ON) tapped in a rebound in front of the Dalhousie net.
The Tigers brought the X-Women's lead back down to one at 18:09, thanks to forward Tara Morning (Aurora, ON), but couldn't even the score in the final minute.
Dalhousie did have an excellent opportunity in the closing 30 seconds, as forward Lisa MacLean (Inverness, NS) skated in on a partial breakaway, but was stopped by Orasanin.
The X-Women then put the game to bed with an empty net goal in the final seconds.
With the win, StFX improved to 5-5-0, while the Tigers fell to 2-8-1. The X-Women's next contest goes at home on Saturday against Mount Allison, while Dalhousie will host Saint Mary's on Sunday.