Preseason: X-Women 1-2 at Moncton tourney

MONCTON, NB - The X-Women hockey team participated in the 7-team Universite de Moncton Invitational tournament this past weekend and came away with a 1-2 record.

In their first game against the Edouard Monpetit Lynx, a CEGEP school from Quebec, the X-Women were on the losing end of a 4-3 game. The young team went on to win the exhibition tournament, defeating the host Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleues 8-3 in the championship game.

Against the X-Women, the Lynx were down 3-1 after two periods of play and fought back scoring three goals in the third period to claim the win. Elarie Leclair opened the scoring in the game for the Lynx with a goal 11:46 into the first period, but the X-Women came storming back scoring three first period goals.

Markers were credited to Catie Gavin, Carolyn Campbell and Brittney Perkins of the X-Women. Perkins scored on the power play. After a scoreless second period Katia Heydra-Clement scored 35 seconds into the final frame, and Melodie Daoust sealed the win for the Lynx with two consecutive goals.

The Lynx outshot the X-Women by a 33-16 with Roxanne Douville earning the win in nets. Veteran netminder Katie Harvieux took the loss for StFX. With the opening day loss the X-Women were relegated to consolation play.

On Saturday evening, the X-Women easily handled the Mount Allison Mounties, winning by a 4-0 score. StFX established a 1-0 lead after the first period, built on that to lead 3-0 after two periods and added another marker in the third.

Goal scorers in the game for the blue and white were Marilynn Hay who scored shorthanded, along with Nicole Hansom who scored both second period goals, and with Jenna Downey for the fourth goal of the game.

The X-Women outshot the Mounties by a wide 60-16 margin and rookie Katie Greenway earned the win in nets for StFX. Meghan Corley-Byrne took the loss for Mount A.

In their final tournament game on Sunday, the X-Women lost 3-1 in the fifth place game to the St. Thomas Tommies by a close 3-1 margin.

Special teams were the factor in this game as the Tommies scored two goals on the powerplay, and held on for the win, despite being outshot by the X-Women 30-17.

After a scoreless first period, Kathleen Boyle opened the scoring in the game for St. Thomas with a second period power play goal three minutes into the period. Catie Gavin scored the equalizer for the X-Women at 8:28 of the second period but Jillian Coughlin netted the eventual game winner at 12:35 for the Tommies, again on the power play.

A hard fought third period resulted in only an empty net goal off the stick of Tommies player Caroline Hammerheim. Julia Sharun earned the win in nets for St. Thomas while Katie Harvieux took the loss for StFX.

The X-Women have the upcoming weekend off and will regroup to begin AUS regular season play on Oct. 16 and 17. Friday, Oct. 16, StFX will have a chance to redeem their exhibition loss to St. Thomas as they host the Tommies at 7:00 pm at the StFX Keating Centre. On Saturday, Oct. 17 they travel to Moncton for a 7:00 pm against the defending AUS champion Aigles Bleues.