X-Women drop REDS 6-2 in Saturday night action

ANTIGONISH, NS – A four-goal first period and a strong powerplay helped the STFX X-Women hockey team to a 6-2 win over the AUS leading UNB REDS on Saturday night at the Charles V. Keating Centre. 

STFX forward Anna MacCara (Yellowknife, NWT) had a three point night and took home player of the game honours, while Landyn Pitts (Antigonish, NS) was named the second star with her two goal effort, and Ella VandeSompel (London, ON) picked up the third star with two assists. 

MacCara opened the scoring about 9 minutes gone, picking up a long pass from Ireland McCloskey (Barrie, ON), skating in on a breakaway, and backhanding one into the net. About four minutes later, Pitts made it a two goal game, tipping in a point shot from Terryn Mozes (Kanata, ON) with MacCara picking up the other assist. 

Mozes added another 19 seconds later, potting a wristshot from the point through traffic, with Vivian Hinch (Vancouver, BC) getting the assist. The X-Women made it a four-goal period with about 90 seconds left to play before intermission, this time with Hinch finding the top corner while on the powerplay. VandeSompel and MacCara had the other assists. Shots at the end of the period were 16-9 in favour of STFX. 

The X-Women's powerplay continued to provide dividends in the second period, with VandeSompel's pass from the point going to the stick of Tea Pearce (Calgary, AB), who passed it over to Pitts on the side of the net for the goal.  

UNB got on the board with about five minutes left in the second period, with Rylee Strohm (Kingsville, ON) deflecting home a wing pass from Lillian George (Nipissing First Nation) and MacKenzie Keenan (Midhurst, ON) while on the powerplay. UNB tried to keep the momentum going for the rest of the period, and it was Melanie Drost (Nepean, ON) getting the final stick to the puck off a scramble in front of the STFX net with 10 seconds left in the stanza. Robyn Brokenshier (St. Albert, AB) had the helper. STFX lead in shots at the end of the second, 29-27. 

Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) gave the X-Women a four-goal lead with about five minutes gone in the third period, corralling the puck along the near boards, and circling to the slot before firing a slapshot from the faceoff circle while on the powerplay. 

STFX's Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) made 31 saves for the win, while UNB's Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) had 37 saves while picking up the loss. 

The X-Women continue their home stand on Sunday with a 3 p.m. matchup against the Dalhousie Tigers. UNB next plays on Wednesday at 7 p.m., when they will host Moncton.  

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics