(CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I.) – St. Thomas was able to capitalize on three of UPEI's seven penalties to take home a 3-2 overtime win at MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown in front of 100 fans.
With the win, the Tommies improve to 8-7-1 on the season and sit firmly in third place in the AUS, while the Panthers fall to 5-8-3 and sit in fifth place in the conference standings.
The story of the game tonight was penalties, with all five goals occurring on the power play. St. Thomas converted on three of their seven power play opportunities, while UPEI converted on two of their six power plays.
The first period was closely contested with both teams taking eight shots on net. Both Taylor Cook (Brantford, Ont.) for St. Thomas and Marie-Soleil Deschenes (Île-Perrot, Que.) for UPEI stopped all shots in the first to keep the score at 0-0 going into the second.
The game started to heat up in the second with Becky Conner (East St. Paul, Man.) opening the scoring 3:12 into the period. Eliza Snider (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) and Jenna Scott (Fredericton, N.B.) picked up assists on the goal. Seven minutes later Lauren Henman (Cow Bay, N.S.) added a goal to St. Thomas' on a pass from Kelty Apperson (Wilcox, Sask.), making it 2-0 halfway through the period. Emma Weatherbie (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) cut the lead to 2-1 17:14 into the second on a power play goal, with assists going to Keirstin Visser (Crapaud, P.E.I.) and Laura Bradley (St. Teresa, P.E.I.). Shots in the second period were 12-7 in favour of UPEI.
The third period was similar to the first with the Tommies and Panthers going back and forth (shots were 7-6 for UPEI), and Cook and Deschenes playing well in the net. The only break came with 7:32 left when Lindsay Johnston (Bowmanville, Ont.) capitalized on a power play and tied the game up at 2. On the goal, assists went to Weatherbie (for her second point of the night) and Ferran Brown (Calgary, Alta.).
In overtime, a cross-checking penalty to Visser for UPEI at the 3:08 mark put St. Thomas on a 4-on-3. Teah Anderson (Regina, Sask.) put home the winner 33 seconds into the power play with assists going to Apperson and Caley Steinert (Emerson, Man.).
Taylor Cook saved 28 of the 30 shots she faced, while Marie-Soleil Deschenes stopped 21 of the Tommies' 24 shots in the loss.
Teah Anderson was named the Subway player of the game.
St. Thomas is on the road again next week against Saint Mary's (6-9-1) on Saturday at 7 p.m. and against StFX (15-1-0) Sunday at 3 p.m.
UPEI is at home again next weekend with Dalhousie (5-10-0) visiting on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Mount Allison (4-9-2) on Sunday at 7 p.m.
Source: UPEI Sports Communications