Written by Ryan Hyndman, Dalhousie Athletics
The Saint Mary's Huskies beat their cross-town rivals, the Dalhousie Tigers, 3-2 in in shootout on Friday night.
The Tigers got off to a strong start on home ice, drawing a penalty in the first two minutes, to head to the power play. A strong kill from the Huskies would keep the game even and swing the momentum in Saint Mary's favour. A strong shot from Shea Demale (Red Deer, AB) rattled off the mask of Tigers goaltender, Maggie Baxter (Mahone Bay, NS), before it was collected by Kara McLean (Antigonish, NS) and deposited for a 1-0 Huskies lead. Dalhousie would not stay down long as Natasha Falk (Brandon, MB) sped down the wing with a nice shot on goal, leading to the Tigers second man advantage of the night. The Huskies once again killed off the power play and got their first opportunity with the man advantage. Baxter stood tall and kept the lead at one. With two minutes remaining in the first period, Saint Mary's would capitalize on a late rush with McLean finding the back of the net for her second, making it a 2-0 game headed to the second period.
The period got off to a fast start with both teams trading chances before Saint Mary's headed back to the powerplay. Several more saves from Baxter would keep it a 2-0 game. Shortly after the Tigers penalty expired, the Huskies would draw a third penalty and yet another opportunity to go to work with the man advantage. Saint Mary continued to pour the pressure on, but the Tigers held strong. With about five minutes remaining in the period, the Tigers would jump on a loose puck behind the Huskies net and Falk would get Dalhousie on the board to make it a 2-1 game. With three minutes remaining in the second period Emma Penner (Niagara on the Lake, ON) would be called for a game misconduct for cross checking to send the Huskies back to the powerplay for five minutes.
As the third period began, the Tigers killed off the remainder of the major penalty, in large part to more great goaltending by Tigers Baxter. After another successful kill, the Tigers would earn two, back-to-back power plays where the momentum started to turn in their favour, picking up many chances. Huskies goaltender, Ridley Hansen (Red Deer, AB), was able to match her counterpart, coming up big to be Saint Mary's best penalty killer. After a few minutes ticked off the clock, the Tigers would head back to the advantage one last time. Finally, the Tigers were able to solve Hansen with Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB) picking the top corner to tie the game at 2-2 late in the third to force overtime.
With overtime solving nothing, the game would have to be won by a shootout. First up Paige Coulter-Vansickle (Millbrook, ON) was stopped for Dalhousie. First for the Huskies was McLean, missing left of Baxter. After Eustace missed for the Tigers, Baxter could come up with a huge save in the second round and even headed to the third round. With both missing, extra shooters were needed until Maddy Corbett (Sydney, NS) was able to beat Baxter in the seventh round to win it 3-2.
Kara McLean took home the Subway player of the game hours for the Huskies.
The Tigers fall to 7-9 and will look to get back in the win column on Dec 2nd, when they host the UNB REDS. The Huskies improve to 9-5 and will search for their tenth win of the season on Saturday against Mount Allison.