Huskies edge X-Women 3-2

HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's forward Miranda Hatt scored a goal and an assist, and goaltender Ridleigh Hansen stopped 48 shots as the Huskies edged the U SPORTS #7 ranked STFX X-Women 3-2 on Friday night at the Dauphinee Centre.

It didn't take long for the Huskies to find the scoreboard, as forward Shae Demale (Red Deer, AB) played the puck to defence Maddy Corbett (Sydney, NS) at the blue line, where Corbett faked a slapshot and passed directly to the stick of Ellen Laurence (Kentville, NS) who scored to give the home team a 1-0 lead just under five minutes into the first period.

The X-Women high-powered offence pressed for an equalizer, firing 13 shots on goal, including four on a powerplay, but Huskies first year goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) was rock solid and stopped all 13 shots faced to preserve the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Midway through the second period it looked like the X-Women had found their equalizer, as a scramble in the crease saw the red light go on, but the officials discovered the puck under Hansen and waved it off.

The X-Women outshot the Huskies 18-11 in the second period, but Hansen and counterpart Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) continued their strong play, and it remained a 1-0 lead for the home team after two periods.

Hansen continued her great play early in the third period, including a pair of saves against AUS leading scorer Maggy Burbidge (Famlouth, NS) on an X-Women powerplay.

The Huskies would double their lead midway through the third period as captain Caleigh Meraw (Red Deer, AB), delivered a pass to forward Miranda Hatt (Eastern Passage, NS) who fired a shot past Giraudier for her seventh goal of the campaign.

The X-Women cut into the lead when forward Chloe Vukosa (Mississauga, ON) stole the puck in the Huskies zone and roofed a backhand over Hansen for her 14^th goal of the season, cutting the Saint Mary's lead to 2-1 with 8:43 remaining in the game.

Moments later the X-Women tied it up, as defence Lauren Dabrowski (Tiny, ON) corralled the puck in the Huskies zone and found forward Ellie Brown (Kemptville, ON) who beat Hansen to tie it at 2-2 with just over five minutes remaining.

Both teams pressed for a go-ahead goal but it was the Huskies who found it, as Hatt centred a great pass right onto the stick of forward Jillian Duggan (Halifax, NS) who broke away and made a nice move to the backhand, with the puck trickling past Giraudier to put the home team up 3-2 with just under two minutes remaining.

The X-Women ramped up the desperation and Burbidge had several chances to equalize but Huskies defenceman Maddy McCleary (Swift Current, SK) made a diving block to keep the home team in front.

Miranda Hatt was named Subway Player of the Game with a goal and an assist.

Ridleigh Hansen turned away 48 of 50 shots faced on the night, while Amaya Giraudier stopped 24 shots for the X-Women.

The Huskies second straight win improves their record to 15-9-1 on the season. They'll be back on home ice tomorrow as they host the UPEI Panthers at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre.

The X-Women loss snapped a three-game win streak and dropped their record to 17-5-2-1 on the season. They'll be back on the ice on Sunday, as they host Moncton at the STFX Keating Centre, with puck drop scheduled for 3 p.m.

-30-

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics