X-Women advance to Subway AUS final with 3-1 win over Tigers

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The StFX X-Women won Game 2 of the Subway AUS semifinal series 3-1 over the Dalhousie Tigers to advance to the Subway AUS best-of-three final round series, defeating the Tigers in two straight games.

With the win, the X-Women also punched their ticket to the CIS national championship, slated for March 12-15 in Calgary, Alta.

With the change in format to the CIS championship to an eight-team tournament, the AUS conference receives two berths this year. The Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleues claimed the second berth with a 3-1 victory over Saint Mary's in the other AUS semifinal series, also won in two straight games.

Throughout the game, the X-Women out shot the Tigers 35-21, but also took eight penalty minutes compared to the Tigers with four.

The X-Women came out hot in the first period looking to snatch an early lead as they outshot the Tigers 16-7. At the 6:29 mark StFX forward Alex Normore (Bedford, N.S.), found the back of the net to give the X-Women an early 1-0 lead. Heather Tillsley (Aurora, Ont.) and Schyler Campbell (Galloway, N.B.) assisted.

As the Tigers came out to the second period down one goal, they picked up their defensive game and only allowed the X-Women eight shots against goaltender Jessica Severeyns (Hammonds Plains, N.S.).

Three minutes and 25 seconds into play, Tigers forward Lisa Maclean (Inverness, N.S.) slipped one past X-Women goaltender Sojung Shin (Seoul, Korea) on the power play. Marita Alfieri (Aylmer, Que.) and Elizabeth Macarthur (Truro, N.S.) picked up assists.

The period remained scoreless and ended with the 1-1 tie as the X-Women outshot the Tigers 24-16 through 40 minutes.

Entering the third period, the X-Women once again came out hungry for the victory and outshot the Tigers 11-5.

Daley Oddy (Cranbrook, B.C.) broke the tie for the X-Women, notching what would hold up as the game-winning goal at the 9:29 mark. Sarah Bujold (Riverview, N.B.) and Taylor Dale (Oromocto, N.B.) had the helpers on the Oddy goal.

With two minutes left, the Tigers pulled their goaltender in a last effort to tie the game. The X-Women capitalized on the opportunity with Kara Power (New Glasgow, N.S.) sealing the Tigers fate by scoring an empty net goal, unassisted, with 47 seconds left on the clock.

X-Women forward Daley Oddy received Subway player of the game honours while Sojung Shin picked up the win in the StFX net with 20 saves.

This marks the end of the Tigers season, while the X-Women will continue on to the Subway AUS best-of-three final series against the second place Moncton Aigles Bleues.

Game 1 is scheduled for Monday evening, March 2 at the StFX Keating Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m.

Contributions from Dalhousie Sports Communications