X-Women skate to 5-2 victory over Reds

FREDERICTON, NB - The StFX X-Women scored twice in the third period, including an empty net goal, to secure a 5-2 win over the UNB Reds, on Saturday afternoon.

Lea MacLeod (Dartmouth, NS) and Emerson Elliott (Aurora, ON) each scored twice for the X-Women, with MacLeod earning the nod as Subway Player of the Game.

"It's so good to be back, and to get that win," said MacLeod. "It was so important for our team to come off the break and play like that."

The home side opened the scoring, early in the first period.

At 4:37, with the Reds rushing the puck into the X zone, Hanna Matchett (Nanton, AB) fired a shot that beat X goalie Cassidy McEwen (Lloydminster, AB) to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.

But the X-Women were quick to respond.

Tyra Meropoulis (Edson, AB) scored just 91 seconds later, tying the game 1-1.

Mid-way through the frame, Ashley Stratton (Mount Pearl, NL) scored to restore UNB's one-goal lead, but the X-Women were, once again, quick to respond as MacLeod scored her first, just 47 seconds later.

MacLeod broke the 2-2 tie at 7:40 of the second period, before the teams settled into a bit of a defensive battle.

"We've been practicing really hard since we've been back, so we're just trying to stay consistent and I think we did that well," said MacLeod.

Elliott scored her first 5:50 into the third period and added an empty-net goal with 11 seconds to play.

Meropoulis had two assists to go with her goal.

Lily George (Garden Village, ON) had two assists in the Reds loss.

"It's tough," said Matchett, of the loss. "We definitely had some momentum swings, and we were a little tired, but we need to be able to push through and keep rolling."

McEwen stopped 21 of 23 UNB shots in the StFX net, while Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) made 31 saves on the 35 shots she faced.

With the win, the X-Women improve to 13-5-1. Their next action comes Tuesday, when they host Saint Mary's.

The Reds are now 12-8. UNB hosts St. Thomas on Wednesday. Game time is 7:00pm.

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Courtesy Andy Campbell, UNB Athletics