Tommies trump X-Men in shoot out

Tommies celebrate SO win - Courtesy Dylan Buell

With a full team effort the St. Thomas Tommies pulled out a dramatic 6 - 5 shootout win against St-FX. With the win the Tommies have matched last season's win total with three. They also sit 1 point behind the X-Men for the final playoff berth in the AUS.

Tonight's game was less than two minutes old when Coach Troy Ryan called a time out to settle his players before things could go wrong. His team responded. STU was first on the score sheet at 11:24 of the period when Andrew Andricopoulos (Sanza) pinched in from the point to score his second of the season. It was the only goal of the period as STU would take the 1 - 0 lead into the intermission.

Brad Gallant would get called for a 4 minute high sticking penalty at 4:05 of the second period but Steve Sanza would squeak one through the pads of Joseph Perricone on a break away to give STU a two goal lead and league leading 5th shorthanded goal of the season. X would capitalize on the same powerplay at 7:07 to cut the lead and would score again on the PP at the 19:00 minute mark to tie the game going into the third period.

In the final regulation period, the teams would combine to score 6 goals in a see-saw battle. Steve Sanza (Morin, Eagles) scored his second of the night at 1:22 but X responded at 3:11. Jonathan Bonnneau (Gallant) would pull the Tommies ahead again at 4:29 and once again X comes back with a goal at 7:59. Bryce Swan would get his second of the game to give the X-Men their first lead of the night at 12:22 but Robert Zandbeek (Andricopoulos, Bonneau) tied the game on the PP with 5 minutes left.

Shortly after the goal Bryce Swan was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for head contact on Mike Reich. The Tommies played out the third on the powerplay but could not get the winning goal.

Several penalties were called in overtime but both teams' penalty killing units were up to the task. After 70 mintues of play the game remained tied at 5's with STU outshooting the X-Men 35 - 30.

The shootout went six deep before it was decided. Jordan Scott would get the winner after Yuri Chermetiev, F-A Poulin, Jonathan Bonneau, Randy Cameron, and Steve Sanza all failed to score. Charles Lavigne was brilliant in the shootout foiling all six X shooters. Scott was named 1st star of the game with the winner and Steve Sanza with 3 points was named 3rd star. A big win indeed for STU. Watch the entire shootout HERE. (Thanks to Tommies TV and Randy Corey for the link)
In AUS women's play, the Lady Tommies defeated the SMU Huskies 4 - 2. The Tommies were down 2 - 0 after the first period but the line of Jordan Miller, Kayla Blackmore and Dani Miller did the damage in the comeback victory.

Jordan Miller had 2 goals and an assist, Dani Miller a goal and two assists and Kayla Blackmore a goal and three assists for St. Thomas. Julia Sharun picked up the win. The Tommies were 1 for 6 on the powerplay and 2 for 3 on the PK. Shots were 36 to 20 in favour of STU.

The Ladies take on St-FX tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM. The game will be webcast HERE.