Hockey X-Women head into break in 1st place

The X-Women hockey team improved their record to 9-2-1 with wins over Halifax rivals Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie. StFX defeated SMU 6-1 in Halifax Friday night and handled Dalhousie 4-2 at home Sunday afternoon.

Jessica Shanahan scored two goals and Katie Harvieux had 22 saves in net in the X-Women’s 6-1 effort over the Saint Mary’s Huskies. Shanahan scored the first goal of the game and Brittney Perkins followed up with a first period marker as the X-Women led 2-0 after one period of play.

They increased the lead to 4-1 after two periods as Shanahan notched a power play goal and Daniela Falconia scored for X. Third period goals came off the sticks of Jenna Downey and Abygail Laking. Suzanne Fenerty and Tyson Beukeboom each had two assists a piece for StFX.

Melissa Young scored the lone goal for the Huskies who were outshot 37-23 in the game. Harvieux earned the win in nets for the X-Women while Jillian MacIsaac took the loss for Saint Mary’s.

Harvieux earned her second win of the weekend and 7th of the season with a 4-2 win at home at the Keating Centre as the X-Women closed out AUS play for the first half of the season.

Abygail Laking scored a power play marker just 1:16 into the game and the X-Women led 1-0 after one period.

Catie Campbell and Carolyn Campbell scored second period goals, also on the power play, and Jessica Shanahan followed up with the X-Women’s fourth goal of the game at 16:03 of the second period.

The Tigers launched a comeback in the third period as Fielding Montgomery and Jocelyn LeBlanc found the back of the net, but time would run out as X held onto the win.

Harvieux had 20 saves in the game as the X-Women outshot the Tigers by a 32-22 margin. Ashley Boutlier took the loss for Dalhousie.

With a 9-2-1 record and 19 points, the X-Women sit in first place in the AUS heading into the Christmas break. Moncton (8-2-1) is in second place with 17 points followed by Dalhousie (7-3-0) with 14 points in third.

They will resume AUS action at home on January 9-10, hosting St. Thomas and Moncton.