SMU mounts 3rd period comeback, defeat X-Women in shootout

ANTIGONISH, NS - The Saint Mary's Huskies mounted a third period comeback and pulled out a 3-2 shootout victory over the STFX X-Women on Saturday night at the Charles V Keating Centre.

Saint Mary's forward and first star of the night Kara MacLean (Antigonish, NS) notched the game winner, sliding home a low shot after some nifty stickhandling.  

The Huskies came out with some jump early in the first period, peppering STFX goalie Bianca Zak (Stonewall, MB) with shots. Saint Mary's netminder Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) had to come up big later in the period as the X-Women tried to capitalize on eight minutes of powerplay time, but the period ended 0-0.

Shots at the end of the period were 17-6 in favor of the X-Women.  

STFX forward Ireland McCloskey (Barrie, ON) opened the scoring 40 seconds into the second period, picking up a pass in the low slot from Mackenzie Lothian (Alliston, ON) and snapping one high on the glove side. Joanna Martinsen (Thunder Bay, ON) had the second assist.

Tea Pearce (Calgary, AB) doubled the STFX lead just over three minutes later, knocking in a powerplay marker after a scramble in front of the Saint Mary's net. Alexis Perry (Brooklin, ON) and Martinsen, who was named third star of the game, chipped in with the helpers.  

The Huskies looked to put a goal on their board during a powerplay of their own, but the STFX defense came through and barred the door.  

The X-Women had a great start to the third period, but Hansen's backstopping along with several blocked shots by Huskies' defenders kept it a two-goal game early in the stanza.  

What was already a chippy game got even more so in the third, with both teams picking up penalties.

With three minutes to go, Saint Mary's forward Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) pounced on a loose puck in front of the STFX and fired it home, with Keyara Nelson (Belleville, ON) getting the assist.

The Huskies then tied it up under a minute later, with Jillian Duggan (Halifax, NS) swatting home a pass from Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) in close, sending the game to overtime.

Overtime settled nothing, setting the table for MacLean's shootout game winner.  

Hansen made 43 saves while picking up the win and second star of the game honors, with Zac making 16 saves while getting tagged with the loss.   

The X-Women are on the road next weekend, when they will take on UNB on Friday, October 18, at 7 p.m. The Huskies are also in New Brunswick next weekend, when they will face off with the St. Thomas Tommies on Friday night at 7 p.m.  

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics