X-Women edge Panthers 3-1
The U SPORTS No. 8 ranked STFX X-Women dropped the UPEI Panthers 3-1 in a Sunday matinee matchup at the Charles V Keating Centre. The X-Women have now won three games in a row.
ANTIGONISH, NS—The U SPORTS No. 8 ranked STFX X-Women dropped the UPEI Panthers 3-1 in a Sunday matinee matchup at the Charles V Keating Centre. The X-Women have now won three games in a row.
The Panthers had a pair of powerplays in the first 10 minutes of the game, but the X-Women not only kept them off the board, but also generated a couple of scoring chances while shorthanded. The blue and white later had two powerplays of their own, but also weren't able to break the deadlock early. Shots at the end of the first period were 14-5 in favour of the X-Women as the game remain scoreless through 20 minutes.
The X-Women came out from the intermission looking to score and were rewarded at the 4:27 mark. While the Panthers had a delayed penalty, STFX forward and second star of the game Kamdyn Switzer (Stittsville, ON) fired a shot from just inside the bottom of the face-off circle that took a friendly bounce and found the back of the net. Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) had the assist.
The lead was short lived though, as Panther Kierra St. Peter (Craigs Flat, NB) went top shelf after streaking in on a breakaway off an outlet pass from the game's third star, Brooke Henderson (Halifax, NS), about 90 seconds later.
STFX kept up the pressure though, and a great individual effort by player of the game Ireland McCloskey (Barrie, ON), who picked up the puck behind the redline and wired a high wrist shot from the top of the slot, regained the lead for the home team, 2-1, in what would hold up to be the game winner.
Both teams tried to add to their tallies in the third period but Panther goalie Erin Cabaday (Oakville, ON) and X-Women goalie Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) both held their ground. The Panthers pulled Cabaday with about 90 seconds left, but STFX had the final goal, with first-year forward Tea Pierce (Calgary, AB) lifting a long shot from her own end into the empty net.
Shots at the end of the game were 38-17 in favour of the X-Women. Giraudier made 17 stops while picking up the win, while Cabaday had 37 saves while being tagged with the loss.
The X-Women are on the road on Wednesday, November 8, when they will visit the Dalhousie Tigers at 7 p.m. in Halifax. The Panthers host the Mount Allison Mounties next Friday at 7 p.m.
RECAP BY: Matt Draper, STFX Athletics / PHOTOS BY: Bryan Kennedy
