X-Women snap losing streak with win over Tommies

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - The CIS No. 7-ranked X-Women hockey team broke a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win at home over the St. Thomas Tommies Friday night.

The teams exchanged first period goals as Kenya Marcelline opened the scoring for the Tommies with a power play goal at 9:39. Myfanwy Thomson and Erin MacIsaac had the assists.

Veteran StFX forward Erin Brophy scored the equalizer at 17:34 after she beat a Tommies defender and backhanded a high shot that beat netminder Kristin Wolfe on a solid, unassisted effort.

The X-Women pulled ahead 2-1 after 40 minutes as Alex Normore scored the lone second period goal, shoveling in a rebound off a Taylor Dale point shot while on the power-play. Daley Oddy also picked up a helper on the play.

Molly MacDonald increased the StFX lead to 3-1 with a goal at 14:51 of the third period, tipping in a Jenna Pitts shot.

The Tommies fought back and netted a marker of their own less than two minutes later as Kelty Apperson scored from Katie Brewster and Teah Anderson.

Dale regained the two-goal lead for the X-Women at 18:53 as she one-timed a Kara Power pass on a two-on-one rush up ice right in front of the Tommies net. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Tommies came right back up ice as Marcelline potted her second goal of the game with 58 seconds left in regulation. Thomson and Jenna Scott assisted.

The X-Women held on for the victory, despite a valiant effort by the Tommies with an extra attacker on the ice and an empty net in an attempt to score the tying goal.

Sojung Shin picked up the win in the StFX net, tallying 15 saves. Wolfe took the loss for the Tommies, turning aside 26 pucks.

StFX forward Schyler Campbell earned Subway Player of the Game honours.

With the win, the X-Women improve to 12-2-1 atop the AUS conference. They will hit the ice again on Sunday afternoon as they host the second place Saint Mary's Huskies (11-3-0). Game time is 2 p.m. The Tommies (6-5-4) will play in Moncton (6-8-1) Saturday at 2 p.m.

Source: StFX Sports Information