Huskies beat X-Women 6-3 in AUS hockey action

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) - The Saint Mary's Huskies earned a big win on the road on Sunday afternoon at the Keating Centre, defeating the CIS No. 7-ranked StFX X-Women 6-3.

The Huskies got out to a 3-0 lead in the game and never relinquished the advantage as they improved to 12-3-0 on the season, moving to within one point of the first place X-Women (12-3-1).

Caitlyn Manning opened the scoring six and a half minutes into the game as her shot from inside the faceoff circle beat StFX goaltender Pascale Daigle. Rebecca Mosher and Laura Polak assisted.

Nicole Blanche scored her first of two goals on the afternoon on a two-on-one play with 1:37 left in the opening period. She took a Brianna Soper pass and beat Daigle low on the far side.

Shots in the opening period were 9-7 in favor of the X-Women despite being down 2-0 on the scoreboard.

Maggie Poliseno wasted no time in the second period scoring the Huskies goal as she scored on a breakaway 14 seconds in. Kaylan Palsat had the helper.

The X-Women got on the board two minutes later as veteran forward Daniela Falconio fired a wrister under the cross bar of Huskies netminder Sienna Cooke. Paige Belair assisted on the play.

Erin Brophy then pulled the X-Women to within one goal at 5:06 of the second period after she banged in the puck after a goal crease scramble. Alex Normore had the lone assist.

Blanche regained the Huskies two-goal lead at 16:46 from Caitlyn Schell and Carly Gray. She found the back of the net through a crowd to give Saint Mary's a 4-2 edge after 40 minutes of play.

Huskies forward and Subway Player of the Game widened their lead with a goal 40 seconds into the third period, her backhander beating Daigle in the StFX net. Palsat picked up her second assist of the afternoon.

Soper scored the Huskies sixth goal at 14:44, punching in the rebound of a Caitlyn Schell shot.

Daley Oddy rounded out the scoring with StFX's final goal at 14:58 from Kara Power and Taylor Dale, her shot off the rush beating Cooke on the blocker side.

The Huskies outshot the X-Women 27-23 as Cooke registered 20 saves. Daigle had 21 saves in the losing effort for StFX.

Saint Mary's next takes to the ice Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. when they host the AUS fourth place Mount Allison Mounties.

The X-Women will then host the Mounties the following day, Sunday, Jan. 19. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m.

Source: StFX Sports Information