Antigonish, NS - The STFX X-Women got back to their winning ways on Friday night, shutting out the St. Thomas Tommies 3-0 at the Charles V Keating Centre.

The X Women came into the game shorthanded with only 16 skaters, due to several injuries, and without Lea MacLeod (Dartmouth, NS) and Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) , who are both taking part in the FISU University Games in Lake Placid.  

Despite the short squad, the win officially clinched the X-Women a playoff berth in the AUS portseason as they improve to 14-4-1-1 on the season. The Tommies drop to 6-14-1-0.

Early in the opening period, St. Thomas made it difficult for the X-Women to get out of their own zone, but X still lead in scoring chances and shots after the first 20 minutes.

The Tommies' penalty kill was also called on a couple of times in the first period, but STFX wasn't able to take advantage, thanks in part due to the play of St. Thomas goalie Caroline Pietroski (Etobicoke, ON), who has the second best save percentage in the AUS.

Shots at the end of the first were 15-7 in favour of the X Women as the teams were held scoreless.

It only took 14 seconds of the second period for STFX to get on the scoreboard, with Lauren Dabrowski (Tiny, ON) wiring a wristshot from the point after getting a pass from Kya Moss (Port Moody, BC) in the St. Thomas end. It was the ninth goal of the season for Dabrowski as she leads all AUS defense in scoring with 23 points.

STFX had another powerplay with about eight minutes gone but the St. Thomas penalty kill did their job. A few minutes later, it was X on the penalty kill who almost scored, but Pietroski came up with a big save to keep the lead at one.

The X-Women kept up the pressure though, with Kamdyn Switzer (Stittsville, ON) picking up a lead pass from Dabrowski and tucking one in after Pietroski left the crease to play the puck with about 15 minutes played in the period.

The X-Women took the 2-0 lead into the dressing room and held a 23-15 shot advantage at the end of the second period.  

It was a quick paced third period without a lot of whistles. The X-Women continued to fire shots at the Tommies net but weren't able to increase their lead, until there was about five minutes left to play. Ellie Brown (Kemptville, ON) banged one home off the pass from Anna MacCara (Yellowknife, NWT) to make it a three goal game.

St. Thomas almost potted one late while shorthanded, but STFX goalie Jamie Johnson (Victoria, BC)  made a big save on a breakaway, keeping the shut out with 21 saves. Shots at the end of the game were 37-21 in favour of the X-Women.

Dabrowski's two points earned her Subway player of the game honours, while Pietroski's 34 save performance got her the second star, and Brown was named third star.

Both teams have a quick turnover and are back in AUS action tomorrow. The X-Women head to Charlottetown to take on the PEI Panthers on Saturday night, while the Tommies will be in Halifax to take on the Dalhousie Tigers.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics

Lauren Dabrowski was named Subway Player of the Game with a goal and an assist in the X-Women's 3-0 victory over STU! #goxgo #SubwayFuel pic.twitter.com/7l7Askrtr2

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) January 21, 2023