(ANTIGONISH, NS) The St FX X-Women defeated the UNB REDS 3-2 in a shootout Saturday evening, in Antigonish.
X-Women forward Maggy Burbidge (Falmouth, NS) scored the shootout winner, as the REDS lost for the first time in the young 2021-22 Atlantic University Sport season.
Despite the result, the REDS are now 3-0-0-1, good for 7 points and 1st place in the AUS standings.
The game was a penalty-laden affair that saw both squads with 41 shots each.
UNB had back-to-back power play chances early in the first period, but the X-Women penalty kill held them off. Burbidge broke in shorthanded for the X-Women, but was taken down by a REDS defender. The ensuing skater-advantage for X did not result in any solid chances for the home squad.
UNB's Emma Giordano (Ancaster, ON) had a great scoring chance midway through the period as she fired off a puck from point blank range in the slot, but X goalkeeper Amaya Giraudier (Assiniboia, SK) was up for the task.
McKiya Mazur (Russell, MB) had X's best chance when she broke in alone on UNB goalie Kendra Woodland (Kamloops, BC) but was stopped by the veteran netminder.
The period was an undisciplined one with 18 penalty minutes being assessed.
REDS forward Lily George (Garden Village, ON) nearly scored late in the period on a breakaway attempt, but shot high of the X net.
The X-Women held a slim 12-11 shot advantage after 20 minutes as the game remained scoreless.
The second period featured high-flying action with both teams exchanging numerous scoring chances. UNB's Tamina Kehler (Chilliwack, BC) rang one off he post midway through the period, and on the ensuing play up ice, X forward Landyn Pitts (Antigonish, NS) broke in alone on Woodland but shot it wide of the goal.
Giordano finally broke the goose egg and potted UNB's first goal of the game at 9:14 of the second period. Her low shot, while on the powerplay, went past a screened Giraudier.
X-Women forward Anna MacCara (Trenton, NS) tied things up with 1:29 left in the period.
St FX started the third period on the powerplay and they wasted no time as Lauren Dabrowski (Tiny, ON) blasted a shot from the point, through traffic, just 14 seconds in, beating a screened Woodland up high.
The lead didn't last long however, as UNB's Myah Bowal (Terrace, BC) evened things up at 2:45. After Alayna Wagstaff (Olds, AB) won a face-off inside the X zone, Bowal picked up the loose puck and fired a quick shot past Giraudier.
Both teams pressured for the equalizer and exchanged powerplay opportunities later in the period, but to no avail as the score remained tied 2-2 at the end of regulation play.
The Reds were assessed a roughing penalty 20 seconds into the five-minute overtime period but their penalty kill unit came up big and kept the X-Women off the board.
Payton Hargreaves (Whitby, ON) nearly ended it for the Reds in OT on a breakaway but was stoned by Giraudier.
In the ensuing shootout, two of three shooters from each team scored, forcing a sudden death shootout situation. After Giraudier stopped George with a pad save, Burbidge netted the winner on a high shot that beat Woodland glove side.
Giraudier was named third star of the game, posting 39 saves for the win between the pipes for X. Woodland, with 38 saves, was the game's second star.
Subway Player of the Game honours went to Burbidge.
UNB sees their next action on Friday, when they host Moncton. The X-Women will face-off against the same Aigles Bleues, on Saturday, in Moncton.
RECAP: Krista McKenna/STFX Athletics
PHOTOS: Mya Slawter/for STFX Athletics