Antigonish, NS - Special teams led the way for the STFX X Women hockey team as they scored three power play goals in a convincing 4-0 shutout win over the Aigles Bleues de Moncton Friday night at the Charles V Keating Centre.

The U SPORTS No. 8 ranked X Women came out flying early, with a tough forecheck making it hard for Moncton to muster any offence and prevented any shots on the X net until nine minutes into the game.

STFX kept up the pressure throughout the period and were rewarded at the 16:46 mark while on the power play. A shot from the high slot led to a scramble in front of the Moncton net and  defender Laruen Dabrowski (Tiny, ON) banged home the rebound. Emerson Elliott (Aurora, ON) and Kamdyn Switzer (Stittsville, ON) had the assists.

The shots were 16-3 at the end of the first period in favour of X.

Moncton hit the post within the first five minutes of the second period but couldn't get one past X goalie Amaya Giraudier (Assinibola, SK). 

STFX appeared to score on the power play but the goal was disallowed on account of interference. A Moncton penalty shortly thereafter led to a two person power play for X and they capitalized again. Vivian Hinch (Vancouver, BC) fired a shot from the point that beat the Moncton goalie Audrey Berthiaume (St-Bruno, QC) to give the X-Women a two goal lead with 13:37 played in the second. Maggie Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) and Abby Lewis (Kanata, ON) had the assists.

Shots at the end of the second were 29 to 11 in favour of the X-Women who were up 2-0 on the scoreboard.

The home team got on the board again early in the third on the power play again. With 1:08 gone, Tyra Meropoulis (Edson, AB) caused a turnover in the Moncton end and fed Burbidge who tucked in a low shot for her second point of the night.

The X-Women added to their lead just over five minutes later with Burbidge getting a cross ice pass off to McKiya Mazur (Russell, MB), who beat Berthiaume low for the final goal of the game.

Moncton was buzzing late in the game trying to break the shut out but Giraudier stood tall and kept the clean sheet. Final shots in the game were 39-18 in favour of the X-Women.

Lewis was third star of the game while Dabrowski was the second star and Burbidge was first star and Subway player of the game for her three-point performance.

After the game, Burbidge said it was a full team effort that helped secure the win, adding Giraudier "stood on her head."

The X-Women hit the ice again on Sunday at home to take on the Saint Mary's Huskies at 2 p.m..

"I think we played a collective team effort and if we do that against SMU, I think we'll get the win there, hopefully," said Burbidge. "That was just a good team win."

Moncton hits the ice on Saturday night to take on the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax.

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Courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Sports Information

Congrats to Maggy Burbidge, Subway Player of the Game with 1G & 2A in StFX's 4-0 shutout win over Moncton tonight! �� #goxgo #subwayfuel pic.twitter.com/ZMKH8Toxi6

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) November 20, 2021