Mounties top X-Women 3-1 to tie semifinal series

(SACKVILLE, N.B.) - The Mount Allison women's hockey Mounties defeated StFX 3-1 on Thursday evening to tie the best 2-of-3 semifinal series at a game apiece.

The first place X-Women had defeated the Mounties 4-1 in game one in Antigonish on Tuesday. The table is now set for a winner-take-all game on Saturday evening in Antigonish. Game time is 7 p.m.

On Thursday evening, the Mounties jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Marissa Simard scored from in close on a rebound off a shot by Sara Gagnier.  

Simard extended the lead to 2-0 six minutes later when she converted a great pass from senior Courtney King.

The Mounties had an excellent period out-shooting the X-Women 13-11. The second period featured exciting end-to-end action with Mounties goalie Kate O'Neal and StFX's Sojung Shin both turning back a number of excellent scoring chances to keep the score 2-0 after 40 minutes.

As in Game 1, the X-Women came out with extra energy in the third and scored their only goal of the game just 35 seconds into the period when Connor Garragan scored from in close to close the gap to 2-1.

StFX continued to press throughout the period but excellent goaltending, penalty killing, and outstanding defensive play by Megan Cameron, Emily vanDiepen, Kristen Cooze, Danielle Bourgeios and Carmanah Hunter kept the Mounties in the lead.

The X-Women pulled their goalie with just over a minute left, but the move backfired when sophomore Kara Anthony broke out of her end with the puck, crossed the red line and slid one into the open net for the insurance goal.

Final shots were 33-25 in favour of StFX. The Subway First Star of the Game was Marissa Simard. Kate O'Brian and Connor Garagan earned second and third star honours respectively. 

Source: Mount Allison Sports Information