Burbidge’s OT winner gives X-Women 3-2 win over Huskies in final game of 2023

HALIFAX, NS – STFX forward Maggy Burbidge scored a pair of goals including the overtime winner, leading the U SPORTS #9 ranked X-Women to a 3-2 overtime win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Friday night at the Dauphinee Centre.

The Huskies had a good chance off the opening puck drop, as Ashley Penney (Lawrencetown, NS) was left open in front of the net, but X-Women goaltender Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) was able to turn away the shot.

The Huskies would open the scoring six minutes into the opening period, as captain Caleigh Meraw (Red Deer, AB) fired a shot off the end boards that took a fortituous bounce onto the stick of forward Kate Gallant (Brooklin, ON), who tucked a backhand shot past Giraudier for her third goal in as many games.

The X-Women had a glorious opportunity several minutes later as All-Canadian forward Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) snuck out on a breakaway, but Huskies netminder Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) got a piece of it and the puck ricocheted off the crossbar and out of play.

The Huskies outshot the X-Women 11-10 through the first period and took a 1-0 lead into intermission.

The X-Women would find their equalizer just a minute into the second period, as forward Ireland McCloskey (Barrie, ON) snapped a shot from the hashmark that beat Hansen high to tie the game at 1-1, 1:06 into the second period.

The X-Women offence kept on pressuring Saint Mary's, leading to a STFX powerplay as defender Maddy Corbett (Sydney, NS) was sent to the box for delay of game. The X-Women had several good scoring opportunities on the ensuing powerplay, but Ridleigh Hansen denied Kamdyn Switzer (Stittsville, ON), and Anna MacCara (Trenton, NS) fired a shot off the post, as the Huskies were able to kill off the visitors advantage.

The remainder of the second period was the Ridleigh Hansen show, as she made save after save, stopping 18 shots in the second period alone, and helping the Huskies kill of several penalties, including a 5-on-3 X-Women advantage.

But with just 20 seconds remaining in the period, X-Women defender Bree MacPherson (Antigonish, NS) intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and dished a pass to Burbidge, who was able to beat Hansen to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

STFX outshot Saint Mary's 20-3 in the second period, taking a 30-14 shots advantage for the game.

Early in the third period, Huskies forward Miranda Hatt scored a heroic goal to tie the game at 2-2. Hatt dished a pass to Maddy Corbett, whose shot was stopped, but Huskies forward Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) was able to tap the rebound past Giraudier, but X-Women defender Ella VandeSompel (London, ON) cleared it out of the crease. That's when Hatt came flying in, falling to a knee and knocking the puck into the empty cage for her team-leading eighth goal of the season.

The remainder of the third period saw exciting, physical play, with both teams having powerplay opportunities, but neither team was able to find a go-ahead marker in regulation and the game headed into overtime.

Just 39 seconds into the extra frame, X-Women forwards Ireland McCloskey and Maggy Burbidge broke out on a two-on-one, and McCloskey played a nice pass to the dangerous Burbidge, who beat Hansen for the game-winning goal.

Burbidge was named Player of the Game with two goals.

The X-Women outshot the Huskies 44-23 on the night, with Giraudier turning away 21 shots for the win, while Hansen made 41 saves in an outstanding performance for SMU.

The X-Women win improves their record to 11-2-2-0 heading into the winter break. They will return to the ice on Thursday, Jan. 4, as they visit the Mount Allison Mounties (1-12-2-1).

The Huskies loss snapped a three game winning streak, but they still earned a point in the standings, as their record dropped to 7-5-1-1 heading into the winter break. They will be back in action on Thursday, Jan. 4, as they visit the Moncton Aigles Bleues (9-6-0-2).

-30-

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarrra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics