Antigonish, NS - It was a triumphant return to the ice for the STFX X-Women, dropping the Saint Mary's Huskies 5-3 at the Charles V Keating Centre on Wednesday night, the first game back for both teams following the holiday break. The win helped put some distance between X and the Huskies, who sit second and third respectively in the AUS standings. 

Mackenzie Beggs (Kemptville, ON) opened the scoring for the Huskies, potting one off a screened shot with just under four minutes gone in the game. Ashley Penney (Lawrencetown, NS) had the assist. STFX responded quickly though, with Olivia Sutton (Calgary, OB) tying the score 90 seconds later, banking in the puck off a SMU player as the helper went to Jayden Thompson (Aurora, ON).  

Saint Mary's was buzzing later in the first period but STFX was able to keep up and had a number of chances of their own. The X-Women took the lead with just under four minutes left, as Vivian Hinch (Vancouver, BC) wristed one home from the point on the powerplay. Josie Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) and Anna MacCara (Yellowknife, NWT) had the assists.

Shots at the end of the first were 17-9 in favour of X.

The Huskies were first on the board in the second period, with Penney scoring from the doorstep off a pass from Erin Denny (Eskasoni, NS) just as a STFX powerplay expired. Just over five minutes later, Chloe Vukosa's eleventh goal of the season gave X the lead once again. 

The Huskies weren't deterred though and tied the game up again two minutes later, with Aimee O'Neill (Glace Bay, NS) having the last touch on a nice passing play involving Maddy McCleary (Swift Current, SK) and Caleigh Meraw (Red Deer, AB).

Shortly after that STFX had a powerplay but SMU goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) made a number of big stops and kept the home crowd quiet. Shots at the end of the period were 28-17 in favour of the X-Women.

The Huskies looked to take the lead early in the third but X netminder Jamie Johnson (Victoria, BC) kept the door closed, making a number of big stops on the penalty kill. It was STFX's Kamdyn Switzer (Stittsville, ON) who broke the deadlock about eight minutes into the stanza, scoring off a wrist shot, set up by a tape to tape pass from Ellie Brown (Kemptville, ON).

The Huskies pressed to tie it up, but AUS leading scorer Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) picked off a pass in her own end late in the game and scored on an empty net breakaway.

Shots at the end of the game were 40-25 for STFX. Hinch was named third star, while Hansen's efforts in the Huskies' net earned her the second star, and Switzer garnered first star and player of the game honours for her game winning goal.

The X-Women next hit the ice on Saturday for a road game against the league leading UNB Reds, while the Huskies also travel to New Brunswick on the same night to face off with Moncton.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics

Kamdyn Switzer picks up Subway Player of the Game honours with a goal in the X-Women's 5-3 win over SMU tonight! #goxgo #SubwayFuel pic.twitter.com/R6nEc9QsGf

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) January 5, 2023