X-Women take down Tommies in deciding Game 5 to advance to AUS finals

(ANTIGONISH, N.S.) The STFX X-Women are set to battle for the AUS championship banner after a 2-0 shutout Game 5 semifinal series-clinching victory over the St Thomas Tommies on Friday night at the Charles V Keating Centre.    

With the win, the X-Women earn an automatic berth in the U SPORTS national championship tournament in Waterloo and will now take on UNB for the AUS title in a best-of-three series.   

The tightly contested semifinal series saw STFX and St. Thomas each win one at home and on the road, before STFX closed things out in front of a boisterous home crowd of 1,288 fans.  

STFX netminder Bianca Zak earned Gabriel Pizza Player of the game and first star honors for her stellar 25 save shutout performance.   

STFX buzzed in the St. Thomas zone early in the first period, pouring shots on Tommies goalie Katie Sweeney and preventing much in the way of offense from the visitors in the first few minutes.  

The Tommies went on the powerplay midway through the period but couldn't capitalize. With two minutes left, STFX took their turn with a player advantage, but things remained 0-0 heading into the first intermission.   

Sweeney and Zak remained strong through the second period, as the home side continued to lead in shots. STFX went on their fourth powerplay of the game 10 minutes into the middle stanza, and second star on the night Kya Moss's point shot through traffic just after the penalty expired opened the scoring for the Blue and White. Bree MacPherson and Joanna Martinsen assisted.   

STFX's Kameryn Lahey, who was named the game's third star, made it 2-0 three minutes into the third, picking up a pass from Mackenzie Lothian, and rifling one to the top corner from the faceoff dot.  

The Tommies battled to get back into the game, but the potent X-Women forecheck made things difficult as it did throughout the series.   

 St. Thomas called a time out with two minutes to go, and pulled Sweeney in favor of an extra attacker, but Zak stayed cool and kept the shutout. Sweeney finished the night with 38 saves.   

The AUS championship series begins Monday, March 10, in Fredericton. Game 2 is set for Wednesday, March 12, in Antigonish. Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for Friday, March 14, in Fredericton.   

Source: Matt Draper, STFX Athletics