X-Women sweep Huskies to advance to AUS final

(ANTIGONISH, NS) The STFX X-Women are moving on to the AUS final after a 4-2 victory and 2-0 semifinal series sweep over the Saint Mary's Huskies. Game 2 was played Saturday evening in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd of 700 at the Charles V. Keating Centre. 

With the win the X-Women will move on to face the top seeded UNB Reds in the best-of-three AUS final. 

Both teams came out to play and had chances early on, but Saint Mary’s goalie Dagny Hudspeth (Burlington, ON) and STFX's Jamie Johnson (Victoria, BC) kept the score at 0-0 through the first 20 minutes. Shots at the end of the period were 13-6 in favour of X.  

A penalty late in the first against the X-Women gave SMU a powerplay to start the second and they took advantage 31 seconds in.  

AUS most valuable player Shae Demale (Red Deer, AB) fired home a screened shot from the top of the face-off circle off a pass from Siobhan Birch (Mississauga, ON), giving the visitors the first lead of the night.  

The lead didn't last very long though, thanks to a goal from AUS rookie of the year Abby Lewis (Kanata, ON) at the 3:40 mark. Lewis poked home a second chance shot after a scramble in front of the Huskies net, with linemates Tyra Meropoulis (Edson, AB) and Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) assisting. 

Less than two minutes later, Ashley Monds (Elizabethtown, ON) took a shot from the point off a pass from Lauren Dabrowski (Tiny, ON) and the shot deflected in off Landyn Pitts (Antigonish, NS) as the X-Women took a one-goal lead, 2-1. 

The high scoring second continued at the 13:19 marker, with Huskies forward Kara MacLean (Antigonish, NS) picking up a loose puck in front of the X net and potting a backhander. Ellen Lawrence (Kentville, NS) and Lauren Papp (Brampton, ON) had the assists.  

However, the tie did not last long.  

Just over a minute later Burbidge scored the go-ahead goal and eventual game winner for the X-Women, sliding an unassisted puck home for the final marker of the second period.   

Shots at the end of the second were 26-14 in favour of X as they took the 3-2 lead into the final period. 

It was back and forth for much of the third with both teams getting chances but STFX lit the lamp with an insurance marker with just over four minutes left to play as Burbidge potted her second goal of the night.  

The AUS first team all-star took control of the puck in the X end before passing off to Lewis. Lewis gained the STFX zone then hit Burbidge back with a tape-to-tape pass that she one-timed in, setting the hometown crowd into a frenzy. 

The Huskies took a timeout and pulled Hudspeth from the net with 2:46 left in the game in favour of the extra attacker and spent most of the remainder of the period peppering shots on Johnson, trying to create scoring chances. 

Johnson stood her ground and with her teammates held onto to 4-2 victory, clinching the semifinal series two games to none over their provincial rivals.  

Shots at the end of the game were 30-23 in favour of the X-Women, with Johnson making 21 stops for the win. Hudspeth had 26 saves at the other end for the Huskies in the loss.  

MacLean received Subway player of the game honours for the visiting Huskies. 

After the game, STFX Subway player of the game Burbidge noted both teams had some bumps and bruises before even getting started, with X having played Moncton on Wednesday, and Saint Mary's the evening prior.  

"It's always a good match between X and Saint Mary's, it's always chippy,” she noted. “It's always gritty but at the end of the day, we had the extra give and that's what got us the win."  

As for how the X-Women remained calm, Burbidge said it was something they had to work on throughout the season.  

"I think we were a little bit shady with it at the beginning of the year," she said. "That was one of our downfalls, lots of penalties. But, we kept our heads cool and that was the difference out there." 

As for their next match up, Burbidge said UNB is always a tough opponent.  

"Every game so far has been close and it's been the same thing as with Saint Mary's, chippy games, but at the end of the day I think it's going to be about who wants it more and coming off this win, I hope we want it more." 

The schedule for the Subway AUS championship final series will be released on Sunday. Game one will take place in Fredericton with game two in Antigonish.  

Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics