X-Women shutout Tommies 2-0

Antigonish, NS - In an early season AUS women's hockey contest, the StFX X-Women blanked the St. Thomas Tommies by a score of 2-0.

The first period of play was an even contest with the Tommies having more chances early in the period. The St. Thomas defence were able to utilize the glass or the boards to send the forwards on odd-man rushes and forced StFX goaltender, Carly Molnar (London, ON) to make some key saves. Her best save was a blocker save on a shot that looked destined for the top corner. Paige Jackson (Stoney Creek, AB) and Alexandra Woods (Courtice, ON) were particularly effective on the rush. 

Shots at the end of the first period were 9-8 in favour of the X-Women; however, the few quality scoring chances favoured the Tommies as the game remained scoreless after 20 minutes of play.

The second period saw the Tommies once again show their speed on the counter-attack, but they were not able to make the most of their momentum. Gradually, the X-Women began to get more time in the St. Thomas zone and it was the 3M line of Lea MacLeod (Dartmouth, NS), Tyra Meropoulis (Edson, AB) and Kristen McKinley (Rothesay, NB) that was able to convert their effective offensive zone play into the first goal of the game at the 14:57 mark. 

Meropoulis made a number of nice moves in the corner and MacLeod finished the play, with McKinley drawing the lone assist.

Less than a minute later, the X-Women doubled their lead when captain Sarah Bujold (Moncton, NB) put in a rebound after more good puck movement in the Tommies zone.  Hannah MacDonald (Westaskawin, AB) and Kate Gotaas (Sherwood Park, AB) drew the assists.

StFX outshot the Tommies 9-5 in the second period.

The third period produced no goals. StFX played their best period of the game and created numerous scoring chances; however, Abby Clark (Springdale, NL) was perfectly positioned in the St. Thomas net to turn aside all 11 shots that came her way. The Tommies were unable to stem the StFX tide and could only muster four shots.

The first star and Subway Player of the Game was StFX forward Sarah Bujold. The second star went to Tommies forward Emily Oleksuk (Thunder Bay, ON) and the third star was X-Women defense Santana Gravelle (Lumsden, SK).

Next on the AUS schedules sees the X-Women travel to Halifax Sunday to face the Dalhousie Tigers at 6:30 pm. The Tommies will host the Panthers next Friday night at 7:00 pm.

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Courtesy Bart Sears, StFX Sports Information