(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Gabrielle Forget registered her fifth season shutout to lead the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues to a 3-0 win over second rank Saint Mary's University Huskies on Saturday in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action in Halifax.
With the win, Moncton secures third place in the conference standings. They will play University of Prince Edward Island Panthers in a best 2-of-3 quarterfinal series that will begin on Tuesday evening, at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena, at 7 p.m. on the Moncton campus.
After this final regular season game, the Aigles finish with 14 wins, nine losses and one tie, for 29 points. The Huskies finish second in the standings with a 16-6-2 record and 34 points.
Amélie Larivière (from Nadine Richard and Marika Lacroix) and Karine Roy (from Lacroix), on the power-play, gave their team a 2-0 lead in the first period. Kaitlyn Gallaway (unassisted) put the score at 3-0 in the second.
There was no scoring in the third.
Gabrielle Forget faced 26 shots for Moncton while Rebecca Weagle saw 34 for the Huskies.
"I knew we had the team to win. We would have preferred to play better before Christmas, but we only gelled together in January," said Moncton coach Denis Ross. "We did have to modify our game plan a bit today, but the girls responded well. A win against the Huskies gets us on the right track for the playoffs. We did block a number of shots today and we did not give them too many opportunities to reach our goaltender."
"This shutout win sure gives us confidence," said Subway Player of the Game Gabrielle Forget following the game. "I have to give credit to all team members. We will have to keep on working hard until the end of the playoffs. I am very happy with my season and for our team. We need to continue on that note."
The StFX X-Women finish first in the AUS standings. They and the Huskies earn a bye to the semifinals.
Moncton finishes in third, the St. Thomas Tommies in fourth, the Mount Allison Mounties in fifth and University of Prince Edward Island Panthers in sixth. The Dalhousie Tigers finish seventh and miss the playoffs. The Mounties and the Tommies will meet in the other quarterfinal playoff series.
Source: Moncton Sports Information