(SACKVILLE, N.B.) - The first ever Subway AUS women's hockey championship best 2-of-3 final is heading to a third and deciding game, thanks to a thrilling 3-2 overtime win by the Mount Allison Mounties on Thursday night in Sackville. Senior Megan Entwistle sent the partisan crowd of 826 into a frenzy just 1:42 into overtime when she beat Moncton goalie Gabrielle Forget for the winning goal.
The Mounties got off to a quick start with quality scoring chances on the opening shift of the game but it was l'Université de Moncton who struck first. Manon Lamarre scored 8:24 into the first period with a power-play marker, giving les Aigles Bleues a 1-0 advantage.
Moncton then struck again on the power-play five minutes later when Karine Roy pounced on a rebound, giving them a 2-0 lead before the end of the frist period.
The Mounties went to work chipping away at the Moncton lead but were held at bay until 15 minutes into the second period when freshman Jennifer Bell was able to get one past Forget on a shot from the point. Bell's goal, assisted by Shelby Colton, brought the Civic Centre to life and gave the Mounties energy heading into the third period.
Moncton's Kaitlyn Galloway was sent to the box for tripping with 25 second remaining in the third period, giving the Mounties a power-play to start overtime. While the Mounties couldn't convert on the power-play, it only took only another 13 seconds before Entwistle was able to find the back of the net with her second game winner of the post-season.
Linemate Samantha Bujold assisted on the goal. A jubilant Mounties bench jumped over the boards to celebrate their second playoff overtime win in less than a week.
"Tonight our girls did what they have done all season," said Mounties head coach Zach Ball. "Even though we didn't have the start we wanted on the scoreboard, our girls kept working hard, stuck to our system and showed the patience to win in the end. I am really proud of the effort tonight and of the great contributions we got from players like Carmanah Hunter. Saturday should be a lot of fun."
With the win, the Mounties push their home playoff record to 3-0. Mounties netminder Kate O'Brien made 25 saves for her fifth playoff win including a dramatic breakaway save when the game was 2-1. Moncton Forget made 25 saves in only her second playoff lost this post-season.
The Subway AUS women's hockey championship best 2-of-3 final series now shifts back to Moncton for the deciding Game 3 on Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m. The winner will be crowned the AUS Champion and will advance to the 2014 Scotiabank CIS women's hockey championship, being hosted by St. Thomas University March 13-16.
Source: Mount Allison Sports Information