Antigonish, NS – The StFX X-Women snapped a four-game losing skid with a 2-1 victory over the Dalhousie Tigers Friday night at the Charles V. Keating Centre.
The home team scored once in the first and second periods, respectively and held on for the victory.
Their first goal came off the stick of Tyra Meropoulis (Edson, AB) just over five minutes into the game. On a give-an-go play with Kristen McKinley (Rothesay, NB), Meropoulis took the puck back in front of the net and zipped in past goaltender Fabiana Petricca (Woodbridge, ON).
The one-goal lead held up for the remainder of the period as the X-Women outshot the Tigers 13-9 in the opening frame. The Tigers had a late power play opportunity but could not convert.
Seven minutes into the second, Emerson Elliott (Aurora, ON) gave the home team a 2-0 lead as she took a nice lead pass from Lindsey Donovan (Mirimichi, NB), skated down the wing and scored on a nice high shot over the blocker shoulder of Petricca.
The X-Women kept up their pressure throughout the middle period but Petricca was solid in the Tigers net. StFX held a 20-4 shot advantage as they held the two-goal lead after 40 minutes of play.
The physical play ramped up in the third period as both teams were sent to the penalty box for multiple infractions.
The Tigers came out stronger in the third period. They had a five-on-three power play advantage for a minute early in the period and pulled Petricca for an extra attacker, and nearly got on the board, but it was Cassidy McEwan's (Lloydminster, AB) turn to be strong in the StFX goal.
Autumn Moors (Ottawa, ON) finally solved McEwan as she tallied late in the period at the 17:37 mark. With Petricca pulled again, the Tigers peppered shots on McEwan and Moors picked up a loose rebound and fired it in.
The Tigers were unable to score the equalizer as time ran out and the X-Women held on for the 2-1 lead.
Petricca was named the third star of the game, finishing with an incredible 51 saves as the X-Women outshot the Tigers 53-29.
StFX defense Emma Thomas (Red Deer, AB) was the game's second star and forward McKinley earned first star and Subway player of the game honours.
The X-Women will take to the ice at the StFX Keating Centre again on Sunday afternoon when they host the St. Thomas Tommies at 3:00 pm. The Tigers next see action on Friday, November 8th when they will host UNB.
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Courtesy StFX Sports Information