No. 1 Martlets shut out hockey X-Women

The CIS ranked No. 5 X-Women faced off against the No. 1 ranked McGill Martlets in exhibition play Friday night at the StFX Keating Centre, and the Martlets showed the Antigonish fans why they are atop the country as they skated away with a 4-0 shut out victory.

The win is the 62nd consecutive overall win for the Martlets, who are on the verge of breaking the CIS all-time win streak of 67 set by the Alberta Pandas.

First year forward Kim Ton-That opened the scoring in the game for McGill with a first period power play goal at 7:37 after X-Women defense Jenna Downey took a tripping call.

Just minutes later (10:25) Martlets forward Ann-Sophie Bettez gave McGill a two goal cushion as she tucked the puck behind the outstretched StFX netminder Katie Harvieux.

Downey was sent to the box for another two minute minor for cross checking but Harvieux and the X-Women were able to hold off the Martlets on the ensuing power play opportunity. StFX had their own power play chance late in the period after a Jasmine Sheehan hooking call but were held off the score sheet as the opening period ended with the Martlets holding the 2-0 lead and an 11-7 shot advantage.

The X-Women opened the second period playing well and had a few scoring chances in close to the McGill net but first year Martlets goaltender Taylor Salisbury was not letting anything past her, including shots from a StFX power play midway through the period.

With less then a minute to play in the second frame, fifth year veteran McGill captain Vanessa Davidson was left open on the left wing and broke down the side then cut in on net to deke Harvieux and beat her with a low shot. The Martlets took the 3-0 lead into the dressing room for the second intermission. Shots were fairly even at 12-11 for McGill.

The third period featured a flurry of Martlet shots and scoring opportunities and strong play by the fifth year X-Women goaltender Katie Harvieux. Harvieux stayed solid between the pipes for the blue and white, facing 20 third period shots. The one Martlet goal came at 8:22 off the stick of Amy Soberano who jumped on a loose puck and fired it above Harvieux’s shoulder into the back of the mesh.

The 4-0 score held as Harvieux came up with several big saves for the X-Women before the final buzzer sounded, ending the game with 39 saves. The Martlets out shot the X-Women 43-23, with Salisbury earning the win in nets for McGill.

McGill forward Alessandra Lind-Kenny was named the game’s first star for her two-assist performance. Kim Ton-That was the second star and X-Women defense and captain Suzanne Fenerty was the third star.

The X-Women will re-group to face another QSSF opponent Saturday afternoon in exhibition play as they host the Concordia Stingers at 2:00 pm at the StFX Keating Centre.

The Martlets move on to play the Saint Mary’s Huskies Saturday and the Dalhousie Tigers Sunday afternoon.

StFX Sports Information