Carruthers nets overtime winner as X-Women beat Moncton 2-1

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX X-Women picked up their second win of the weekend with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over the visiting Moncton Aigles Bleues on Saturday night at the Charles V Keating Centre. Claire Carruthers ended the game 90 seconds into overtime, taking the puck from her own goal line and wiring a low shot for the winner, picking up Gabriel Pizza Player of the game and first star honors along the way.  

The win keeps the X-Women atop the AUS standings, alongside UNB who also picked up a W on the night.  

Third star Ireland McCloskey opened the scoring early in the first period for STFX with a great rush, carrying the puck from her own blueline and firing home a shot through a screen from Samantah Morrison.  

Moncton's leading scorer Erica Plourde replied three minutes later while on the powerplay with a wrister from the low slot. The X-Women put plenty of shots on the Moncton net but goalie Annick Boudreau was strong throughout and the period ended 1-1.   

The big shot advantage continued in the second period, but Boudreau turned aside chance after chance. Brooklyn Oakes had a big stop for STFX in the final two minutes to keep things even heading into the second intermission.  

Both teams pushed for the lead early in the third while Oakes and Boudreau came up big time and again as the action went back and forth in the final minutes. The deadlock remained though, setting the table for Carruthers' game winner.  

Boudreau had 35 saves on the night while being named the game's second star, while Oakes picked up the win with 14 stops.  

The X-Women are on the road next weekend, kicking off a trip to New Brunswick with a matchup against the St. Thomas Tommies on Friday, January 16.  

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics