Hockey Mounties drop thriller to #3-ranked St FX
2011-02-18 21:45:08
SACKVILLE, NB - The Mount Allison Women's Hockey Mounties came back from a 2-0 third-period deficit but fell in Overtime by a score of 3-2 to the St FX X-Women. The X-Women improve to 21-0-0, and maintain first place in the AUS Standings.
Meghan Corley-Byrne stopped 51 of 54 shots in goal for the Mounties, and showed why she was a 2009-10 AUS Second-Team All-Star throughout the game but especially in the second period, when she turned away all 28 St FX shots.
Alex Normore scored twice, including the overtime winner, and added an assist on Janelle Parent's third period marker for the X-Women.
Darla Frizzell scored for the Mounties with just under three minutes remaining in the third, cutting St FX's lead to 2-1 at the time. After a double minor for spearing called on the X-Women's Jenna Downey, Ashlyn Somers' shot went in off of Kristen Cooze to tie the game up with 94 seconds left.
Lauren Oickle and Chelsea King assisted on Frizzell's goal, while Somers and Meg Davies recorded assists on the equalizer.
X-Women goaltender Kristy Garrow made 20 saves for the win.
After a first period which saw both teams create some good scoring chances and Normore score her first of the game 4:28 in, the X-Women controlled the second period, outshooting the Mounties 28-3. Some incredible saves by Corley-Byrne kept the Mounties within one going into the third, but the comeback was cued by Frizzell's goal less than four minutes after Parent made it 2-0.
The Mounties next play Saturday afternoon at home against the Saint Mary's Huskies in a game that has huge implications for the AUS playoff picture. Both teams have clinched playoff spots, but with third place still up for grabs, it is an important game for these two teams battling for a high seeding.
Even though suffering the loss, the Mounties still record an important point, and gives the team some renewed confidence in taking the #3-ranked team in the country to extra time. With three games remaining on the schedule before the AUS playoffs, the Mounties will look to build off of their strong performance in this game.
The game on Saturday starts at 4:15pm at the Tantramar Civic Centre, and is the last home game for senior defence Andie Switalski.
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