Moncton nip X-Women in OT again

The X-Women hockey team earned a 3-1 win over St. Thomas Saturday afternoon in Fredericton but dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Moncton on Sunday.

In Saturday’s win, the X-Women were down 1-0 to the Tommies after 20 minutes of play after Amy Kelbaugh (Caroline Hammerheim, Lyse Rossingnol) scored on the power play 12 minutes in. 

Abygail Laking tied the game with her own power play goal with 21 seconds left in the second period. Jessica Shanahan and Catie Gavin assisted on the play. Shanahan scored the eventual game winner for X in the third period off an Abby Laking pass and Marilynn Hay scored an empty netter to seal the win for the X-Women, who outshot the Tommies by a 32-16 margin.

Katie Harvieux earned the win in nets for StFX while Julia Sharun took the loss for St. Thomas. The Tommies were 1 for 8 on the power play as the X-Women racked up 16 penalty minutes in the game. X was 1 for 3 in power play opportunities.

On Sunday afternoon in Moncton, the CIS ranked No. 4 Aigles Bleues defeated the No. 5 X-Women 2-1 in overtime, their second consecutive overtime win over the blue and white this season.

Special teams were the difference in the game as the Aigles Bleues scored both their goals on the power play. They had six total power play opportunities in the game compared to only one for the X-Women.

The top two AUS teams were held scoreless in the first period, then the X-Women struck first blood as rookie Tyson Beukeboom scored her first goal of the season 4:49 into the second period. Sidney Ritchie and Jessica Shanahan assisted on the play.

The lead held into the third period until Janie LeBlanc (Valerie Boisclair, Marieve Provost) scored the equalizer for Moncton at 7:36 while on the man advantage. Neither team could find the back of the mesh before the final buzzer sounded, sending the game into extra time.

Genevieve David was the overtime hero for the Aigles Bleues, as she scored the game winning goal 4:07 into the overtime period. Boisclair and Provost each earned their second assists of the game on the power play goal after X-Women Jenna Downey was sent to the box on a checking penalty.

Kathy Desjardins made 21 saves in the Moncton net for the win while Katie Harvieux took the loss for StFX. The X-Women outshot the Aigles Bleues 31-22 in the game.

Despite the loss, the X-Women remain in first place atop the AUS standings with a 13-2-3 record and 29 points, two ahead of the Aigles Bleues. Next on their schedule is a single home game on Saturday against the 7th place Mount Allison Mounties (1-15-1) at 2:00 pm. The Mounties one win this season came at the hands of the X-Women back in November as they defeated them 3-2 in a shootout in Sackville.