The STFX X-Women Hockey team got out of Nova Scotia prior to Hurricane Fiona hit, and travelled to Ontario this past weekend for a trio of pre-season exhibition games. They played three close games, falling 3-1 to Guelph, 4-3 in overtime to Waterloo and 2-1 to Toronto Metropolitan.
In Thursday's game against Guelph, there was no scoring in the game until STFX's Kamdyn Switzer tallied unassisted 14 minutes into the second period.
The Gryphons tied it up midway through the third period while on the power play then scored the game winner with just over a minute left in the game. They added an empty netter to take the 3-1 win.
Jamie Johnson posted 29 saves in the STFX net as they were outshot 32-15 in the match.
Friday saw the X-Women travel to Waterloo to take on the Warriors. The home team got out to an early 2-0 lead on a pair of first period goals. The X-Women tied it up in the second period with goals from Lea MacLeod and Maggy Burbidge.
The Warriors scored with four minutes left in the second to go by one goal, 3-2. STFX battled back and Chloe Vukosa tied it up at the 12:43 mark of the third period.
The remainder of the game saw no scoring, forcing the overtime period where Waterloo's Madison Pritchard scored the game winner 2:15 into the extra frame.
The X-Women outshot the Warriors 28-22 in the game as Amaya Giraudier turned aside 18 pucks in the X net.
On Saturday evening the X-Women played another close one-goal game, falling 2-1 to the Toronto Metropolitan Bold.
The Bold scored in the opening five minutes of the game and held the early 1-0 lead after 20 minutes, then scored on the power play in the second period to go up 2-0.
STFX battled back and Burbidge scored a power play marker for the X-Women midway through the third period but they were unable to notch the equalizer as the game closed out 2-1 in favour of the Bold.
Shots on goal favored TMU at 36-22 as Maggie Johnston had 34 saves in the STFX net.
The X-Women will be back in exhibition action this weekend when they travel to Halifax on Saturday, October 1st for a 7:00 pm pre-season game against the Saint Mary's Huskies.
The same Huskies squad will be in Antigonish on Sunday, October 2nd for a 3:00 pm exhibition game at the STFX Keating Centre.
AUS regular season play begins on Friday, October 7th.
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Recap courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Athletics