Tommies pick up hard fought win over X-Women

ANTIGONISH, NS - The St. Thomas Tommies picked up a hard fought 3-1 win over the STFX X-Women on Sunday in a matinee matchup at the Charles V Keating Centre. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the X-Women.

The game started off a bit slow, with neither team able to get much going in the first period. The X-Women iced the puck a number of times, but St. Thomas wasn't able to turn the offensive zone face-offs into a goal. Shots at the end of the period were 7-5 in favour of the X-Women as the teams remained scoreless.

The pace of play picked up in the second period, with both teams looking to break the deadlock. The Tommies got on the board first, seven minutes into the stanza, with Aislynn Byers (Melancthon, ON) wiring a high wrist shot from the point as a St. Thomas powerplay wrapped up. Trinity Webber (Brampton, ON) had the assist.

Katie Sweeney (Tecumseh, ON) made a couple of big saves in the St. Thomas net to keep the potent STFX offence at bay through most of the period, but STFX did find the tying goal while on the powerplay. With about 90 seconds before intermission, Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) slid home a backhand from in close after getting a pass from Ireland McCloskey (Barrie, ON).

Shots at the end of the second period were 24-16, in favour of the home team.

Third year forward Natalie MacKay (Salmon River, NS) gave the Tommies the lead about midway through the final period, sliding home a backhand after getting the puck from Ekaterina Pelowich (Stoufville, ON), who created a shorthanded turnover after some impressive forechecking in the STFX end.

St. Thomas continued to buzz around the STFX net and doubled their lead with just over three minutes left to play. While on the powerplay, Jacey Dane (Aurora, ON) potted a shot from the faceoff dot after getting a pass from a circling Claire Nimegeers (Wilcox, SK).

Burbidge hit the crossbar late in the game while STFX had the extra skater, but St. Thomas skated away with the win.

Sweeney made 31 saves in the win, earning player of the game honours, while Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) made 21 saves while picking up the loss for STFX. McCloskey was named second star while Pelowich picked up third star.

St. Thomas wraps up the first half of their season on Wednesday, November 29, when they visit the Mount Allison Mounties at 7 p.m. The X-Women are also on the road to finish out the term, as they will visit the Saint Mary's Huskies on December 1, at 7 p.m.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics