Box Score
Calgary, AB – After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in their opening game of the CIS Women's Hockey Championships, the Gryphons women's hockey team was unable to hold off AUS champion St. Francis Xavier on Thursday in Calgary, as the X-Women stormed back to win 4-3. The Gryphons now find themselves in the consolation portion of the tournament and will play on Friday (March 13) at 11am Mountain Time (1pm Eastern). St. FX advances to the CIS semi-final on Saturday at 3pm Eastern Time.
 
The Gryphons and X-Women faced off in what was the opening game of the 2015 CIS Women's Hockey Championships. After a scoreless opening period, there were plenty of fireworks in the second. With St. FX in some penalty trouble, the Gryphons would have a 5-on-3 advantage and their power play unit would go to work. Gryphons fifth year captain Katie Mora (Guelph, ON) opened the scoring with a beautiful re-direct of a Christine Grant shot. The power play goal was Mora's first of the postseason and gave Guelph a 1-0 lead. Just 11 seconds after that goal, the Gryphons would strike again on the man advantage, as Jessica Pinkerton (Oshawa, ON) would add a power play goal of her own to make it 2-0 for the Gryphons. U of G defenceman Jessica Pellegrino (Cambridge, ON) would be called for tripping later in the period. But as her penalty expired, she would jump out of the penalty box and be on the end of a nice outlet pass from Katherine Bailey; Pellegrino would fire home a great shot high, glove side for Guelph's third goal in a span of four minutes and 30 seconds. Before the end of the period the Gryphons, who were great on faceoffs most of the night, would lose a draw in their own end and it would prove costly as X-Women forward Kara Power would get St. FX on the board. Still, the Gryphons led 3-1 heading to the final period.
 
In the third, a hooking call to Brittany St. James sent St. FX to the power play. Sarah Bujold would score to make it a one-goal game as Guelph's lead was trimmed to 3-2.  Penalties continued to be the theme of the night, as this time it was Alana Sims heading to the box for Guelph for hooking. The X-Women would once again capitalize on the man advantage, as four-time AUS MVP Alex Normore would score to tie the game up at 3-3. Just over midway through the final period, Guelph would have a golden opportunity to re-take the lead as they would be given a 5-on-3 opportunity for 40 seconds. This time however, the Gryphons were unable to find the back of the net during the 5-on-3. When the first penalty expired, there would be a goal during the 5-on-4 scenario. Unfortunately for Guelph, it was of the shorthanded variety. With 6:28 to go, five-time All-Canadian Alex Normore would make no mistake on a shorthanded breakaway, ripping a shot into the top corner to complete the X-Women's furious third period comeback. The Gryphons would continue to push late for an equalizer, but were unable to force overtime as St. FX would hold on to win 4-3. Jessica Pinkerton and Alex Normore were named Players of the Game for their respective teams.
 
With the loss, the Gryphons are relegated to the consolation side of the draw and will be in action again on Friday (March 13) at 11am Mountain Time, 1pm Eastern.