Antigonish, NS – The STFX X-Women came out firing Thursday night with 63 shots on goal as they defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 4-1 in pre-season exhibition action at the STFX Keating Centre.

Landyn Pitts fired a pair of goals for STFX who had nine players don the X jersey for the first time in game action as this year's squad features 13 freshmen.

Veteran forward Anna MacCara opened the scoring at the 8:37 mark of the first period as she pounced on a rebound off a Bree MacPherson shot from the point that was initially saved by Tigers goalkeeper Grace Beer.

The 1-0 lead held after 20 minutes as the X-Women outshot the Tigers by a lopsided 22-6 margin in the opening period.

The teams exchanged power play opportunities in the second period but it was the X-Women who capitalized while on the penalty kill. Kamdyn Switzer found an open Landyn Pitts who fired a one-timer from the face-off circle past Beer.

Dalhousie closed the gap four minutes later when Bella House connected with Anika Curri to get her squad on the board.

Ellie Brown gave the X-Women back their two-goal lead when she connected on a two-on-one with freshman forward Ashlyn Garnett with five minutes left in the period.

The X-Women continued to deliver shots on the Tigers goal as they had 21 in the middle frame to Dalhousie's four.

Pitts second goal of the game came 14:17 into the third period as she again connected with Switzer. Switzer streaked down the wing and delivered a solid shot on goal and Pitts buried the rebound to put the X-Women up 4-1.

Final shots in the game were 63-17 for the X-Women as Tigers netminder Beer earned second star honours for her 59 save effort.

Pitts was the first star of the game and STFX's Brown was third star. Amaya Giraudier picked up the win in the STFX net.  

The same two teams will be back in pre-season action tomorrow night in Halifax as the Tigers host the X-Women in a 7:00 pm game.

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Recap courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Athletics