Hockey: Laurier hangs on vs. feisty St. FX

Devon Skeats' hat trick spared Laurier some ignominy.

The OUA powerhouse pulled out a 3-2 win over St. Francis Xavier, meaning it's likely to be in Sunday's bronze-medal game at the CIS women's hockey championship after finishing with 1-1 in Pool B (with three goals scored and three allowed).

Skeats put Laurier ahead for good with 9:37 left and scored again six minutes later. Jenna Downey pulled one back just 12 seconds later and St. FX had a push on to force overtime, putting some heat on CIS player of the year Liz Knox in the Laurier goal.

A loss would have pushed the lone OUA representative down to the fifth-place game.

So it's St. FX vs. Alberta on Saturday night in the de facto semifinal. Please don't ask what happens if the X-Women eke out a one-goal win and create a three-way tie in Pool B. Either Alberta wins (likely) or the X-Women win by at least two and go to the final vs. the McGill-Saint Mary's victor.