Antigonish, NS - The STFX X-Women defeated the Mount Allison Mounties 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at STFX Stadium in the final home game of the regular season for the blue and white. 

The X-Women came out the more assertive of the two teams. The first chance of the game fell to X's Talia Morin who shot just over the bar before the game reached the ten-minute mark.

The opening goal of the match came via an excellent first-touch strike by Emma Steen and past Mountie keeper Kaitlyn Strickland. The Mounties were not without their chances. In the 37^th minute Kiana Gagnon's hard shot from distance just missed the target that would have required a great save from STFX keeper Jordyn Pratt. 

The second half saw StFX immediately look to extend their lead. Their aggressive offensive play resulted in a foul in the box on Emma Steen, which resulted in a penalty kick. Up stepped X captain Amanda Smith to the spot. Smith's shot was well saved by Strickland but, much to the shock of the Mounties, Strickland was adjudged to not have one foot on the line was the shot was retaken. The decision meant Smith would have a second chance and this time Smith left nothing to chance as she fired a low drive into the far corner to extend the X-Women's lead to two.

The Mounties, who have shown good form all year, did not panic as they sought their first goal of the match. Midfielder Bailey Hatcher's strong all-around game almost put the Mounties on the board, but her shot just went over the StFX crossbar.

With the field stretched the X-Women were able to use their excellent passing ability to move upfield. It was soon the turn of another X rookie, Brynn Jurus, to provide an X-Women goal. Jurus fired a low shot that found the corner of the Mountie net.

The Mounties would make a game of it when StFX were unable to clear their lines and the ball fell to Hannah Gumbar who showed a great touch in tight as her strike hit just under the roof of the net. 

Talia Morin, who was an offensive threat from the first minute of play, was finally rewarded with STFX's fourth goal of the game. The X-Women were awarded a free-kick and Mount A were unable to clear. The ball then fell to the feet of Morin whose shot trickled into the net and through a sea of Mountie and X legs to help seal a precious three points for the X-Women in victory.

The Subway Player of the Game honour went to STFX's Brynn Jurus.

The Mounties will next see action when they face the UNB Reds Friday, October 29th in St. John at 5 pm.

The X-Women also play Friday evening as they travel to Halifax to meet Dalhousie.

-30-

Courtesy Bart Sears, STFX Sports Information

Brynn Jurus picks up Subway Player of the Game in the X-Women's 4-1 win over MTA this afternoon! #goxgo #subwayfuel pic.twitter.com/WQ6KVgWdBe

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) October 24, 2021

Following the game the X-Women honoured their 4th and 5th year student-athletes (L to R): Megan Frost, Alyssa Spridgeon, Amanda Smith, Jenna Burrows, Maddy Gardner and student therapist Sarah MacNeil