STFX edges STU in thrilling Game 3 battle at Grant-Harvey 

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) With a trip to the AUS finals hanging in the balance, the St. Thomas Tommies and STFX X-Women delivered a high-intensity showdown in Game 3 of the AUS semifinals at the Grant-Harvey Centre. Despite outshooting their opponents 35-18, the Tommies fell 4-3 in a hard-fought match, giving STFX a 2-1 series lead. 

Tommies came out firing from the opening faceoff, wasting no time getting on the board. Just 10 seconds into the game, Nadia Lavoie lit the lamp, finishing a crisp passing play from Laura Brown and Trinity Webber to ignite the home crowd. 

The lead was short-lived, however, as the X-Women capitalized on an early power play. Landyn Pitts found the back of the net at 4:42, assisted by Kamdyn Switzer to even the score. 

STU responded minutes later in the period as Megan Kirkpatrick continued her scoring streak with her third goal in the series. Lavoie picked up the assist, restoring the Tommies lead. STFX did not back down and with just three minutes left in the opening frame, they struck again on a power play. Anna MacCara converted a setup from Ireland McCloskey and Bree MacPherson to send the teams into the first intermission locked at 2-2. 

The Tommies held an 11-8 shot advantage after 20 minutes and carried that momentum into the second period, peppering X-Women netminder Bianca Zak with quality chances. However, it was STFX who broke the deadlock, taking their first lead of the night at 7:13 when Tea Pearce finished off a play from Switzer and Mackenzie Lothian. Despite a 14-6 shot disparity in their favor, the Tommies couldn't solve Zak, entering the final frame trailing 3-2. 

The third period saw the X-Women tested on the penalty kill, as they took three infractions. The Tommies capitalized on one, with captain Ekaterina Pelowich stepping up in a crucial moment. Pelowich hammered home a power-play marker at 7:14, assisted by Katelin Moffatt and Webber, sending the Grant-Harvey faithful into a frenzy. 

With the game hanging in the balance, both teams turned up the intensity in the final minutes. But it was Pitts who delivered the dagger for STFX, netting her second of the game with six minutes remaining off a feed from Pearce and Switzer. The X-Women then locked things down defensively, with Zak making key stops down the stretch to seal the victory. 

Despite a dominant 35-18 shot advantage, the Tommies couldn't crack the X-Women's defensive wall in the dying minutes. With the win, STFX now leads the series 2-1, putting STU on the brink of elimination. 

Lavoie (STU) and Pitts (STFX) earned first-star honors for their standout performances in a game that had fans on their feet until the final buzzer. The Tommies will need to regroup quickly as they look to stave off elimination in Game 4 tomorrow 7pm at Grant Harvey Centre. 

Source: STU Athletics