AUS Women's Hockey Playoffs: X-Women blank Tommies in Game 5, move to AUS final

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.)- The STFX X-Women are moving on to the Atlantic University Sport championship final series following a dominant 4-0 victory over the St. Thomas Tommies in Game 5 on Thursday night at the Charles V Keating Centre in front of 1,088 fans. 

Player of the Game Mackenzie Lothian (Alliston, ON) led the way for the X-Women, with a goal and two assists in the series-deciding Game 5, while Terryn Mozes (Kanata, ON) picked up the second star and Kamdyn Switzer (Stittsville, ON) was the third star on the night.  

STFX's Ireland McCloskey (Barrie, ON) opened the scoring seven minutes into the game, sliding home a rebound chance from Tea Pearce (Calgary, AB) and Lothian while on the powerplay. The STFX X-Women were spurred on by the large crowd at home and held the early advantage in shots.   

The X-Women went on the powerplay again in the final two minutes of the period and while there were a few chances, the score remained 1-0 heading into the first intermission. Shots at the end of the period were 14-5 in favour of the home side.  

St. Thomas had a big chance on the penalty kill halfway through the second period, but STFX goalie Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) came up big on a shot from Jordan Chaulk (Bonavista, NL).  

Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) made it a two-goal game for STFX on the same powerplay, firing a slapper from the faceoff dot off a pass from Lothian. STFX continued to control play and produce chances, but Katie Sweeney (Tecumseh, ON) stood on her head and kept the Tommies in the game.  

Lothian picked up her third point of the night late in the second, making the most of a breakaway after exiting the penalty box and picking up a long pass from Mozes. Shots at the end of the period were 35-14 in favour of STFX as they held a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes. 

Rookie Kameryn Lahey (Catalone, NS) made it 4-0 with five minutes gone in the third, swatting in a puck on her backhand with a fantastic second chance effort.  

The Tommies were unable to mount a comeback and the X-Women held on for the shutout win. Shots at the end of the game were 52-17 in favour of X as Giraudier had 17 saves on the night for the win. Sweeny made 48 stops for St. Thomas.  

With the win, STFX also punched their ticket to the U SPORTS National Championship March 14-17 at the University of Saskatoon as the AUS conference receives two berths.  

Game 1 of the AUS championship series with UNB is set for Sunday, March 2, at the STFX Keating Centre at 7 p.m. The complete series schedule will be announced in the coming days. 

Both teams met in the conference finals the last two years, with the Reds claiming victory on both occasions. They will aim for a three-peat as AUS champions, while STFX looking to break that streak and compete for their first championship since. 2020. 

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics