X-Women’s special teams deliver in 3-2 win over Panthers

By Thomas Becker

Special teams play proved to be the difference Sunday evening, as the St. FX X-Women defeated the UPEI Panthers 3-2. 

The X-Women (8-4-0) scored three times on power play goals from Lea MacLeod, Tyra Meropoulis and Maggy Burbidge, while their penalty kill unit kept the Panthers (7-3-2) off the board all night. UPEI's two goals were of the even strength variety with Taylor Gillis connecting on one, while the other came from Sydney Lyndon with 10 seconds remaining in the game. 

"There were some penalties both ways, and that's a big factor in determining the outcome of a game," Meropoulis said. "UPEI's penalty kill is really good so we had to make sure our shots made it through. And on the penalty kill, we did really well on that end to help our goalie out."

With four teams — UNB, Saint Mary's, St. FX and UPEI — bunched up at the top of the AUS standings, these wins (and losses) against elite competition will play a key role in determining playoff positioning. After Sunday's win, St. FX pulled into a tie with UPEI for third. 

"It's a tough league this year. There's a lot of good teams, so any points against them is big."

Both teams came out strong looking to make a push in the standings, but it was the Panthers who struck first. Shortly after their power play ended, McKinley Nelson skated toward the side of the net, centred a pass to Gillis whose second attempt on net slipped by Amaya Giraudier for the game's opening goal at 9:38. 

The X-Women found the equalizer at 16:59 when Lauren Dabrowski slid a backhand pass through the crease to MacLeod, who shovelled it in for the tying goal. 

Following a hard-fought, scoreless second, the X-Women power play unit capitalized again early in the final period. At 1:28, Meropoulis took a pass from Dabrowski in the neutral zone, skated toward the left side before whipping a shot past Camille Scherger for the go-ahead goal. Scherger may have been the best Panther on the ice despite the loss, as she recorded 32 saves and kept them in the game. 

St. FX would get to Scherger again at 19:31 when she surrendered a rebound off a Dabrowski shot that Burbidge put away. The Panthers responded 19 seconds later on a blueline shot from Lyndon that got by Giraudier, but it was too late to mount a comeback, as they fell 3-2, ending their perfect record at home.

UPEI looks to get back in the win column next Friday when they travel to Fredericton to take on the St. Thomas Tommies.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan