No. 5-ranked X-Women post 3-1 victory over host Mounties

(SACKVILLE, N.B.) - The StFX X-Women and Mount Allison Mounties capped off a thrilling first day at the 2013 Subway AUS women's hockey championship with the CIS No. 5-ranked X-Women prevailing 3-1 in an exciting game that came down to the wire.

The X-Women did not lead by two goals until just over a minute remaining in the game, and were matched physically by the smaller Mounties team from the opening faceoff, but hung on to get a key regulation win in the round-robin tournament.

StFX outshot the host Mounties 38-12 over the course of the game, but Mount Allison player of the game Meghan Corley-Byrne was stellar in goal, making several highlight-reel stops, including three outstanding saves on the penalty kill in the second period.

Katie Greenway stopped 11 shots in the win for the X-Women, who got two goals from Subway player of the game Jenna Pitts, including the game-winner on the power-play and the insurance marker into an empty net with 1:09 left.

A relatively uneventful first period saw the X-Women take a 1-0 lead on a goal off a faceoff by Schyler Campbell, and the score remained that way through an entertaining second period that saw StFX outshoot the Mounties 16-5.

Corley-Byrne was nothing short of spectacular for the Mounties in the second, making several tough saves in close, while the Mounties generated quality offensive chances at the opposite end of the ice.

Lindsay James tied the game up three minutes into the third with a wrap-around goal, but the X-Women power-play broke the tie on a point shot from Pitts with just over eleven minutes to play.

The loss means Mount Allison will play against the UPEI Panthers Friday evening at 6pm at the Tantramar Civic Centre, while StFX will face the Panthers Saturday with the same start time.

Day 2 of the Subway AUS women's hockey championship kicks off Friday at 3pm when the Moncton Aigles Bleues take on the Saint Mary's Huskies.

All games can be seen live via webcast at www.AUStv.ca.

Source: Mount Allison Sports Information
Photo courtesy of Tom Reid Photography (www.tomreidphotography.com)