By Mark Moffat
In AUS women's hockey quarter-final action at the Halifax Forum, the fourth seeded Dalhousie Tiger defeated the fifth seeded Moncton Aigles Bleues 7-2 in game one of their best-of-three series.
In the first period, the Tigers nearly got a quick one when Subway Player of the Game Lisa MacLean (Inverness, NS) broke in, but was stopped about 90 seconds into the game. Dalhousie did get the first goal when Jesse Rietveld (Pelham, ON) scored from a wrist shot from the circle off a beautiful cross ice pass at 7:14 to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Moncton responded immediately when Janelle Graham (Dieppe, NB) got a partial break and zinged a wrist shot from the slot into the net at 7:38 to tie the game at 1-1, which is what the score was after the first period.
The second period saw Dalhousie nearly get the lead back when Danika Phillips (Barrie, ON), in the midst of chaos in front of the net, let off a shot from her knnes that was stopped about three and a half minutes into the period. The Tigers eventually took the lead back when Corinne Desjardins (Ottawa, ON) put a wrist shot from the slot top shelf at 9:37 to make it 2-1. Dalhousie extended their lead when Victoria MacIntosh (Hammonds Plains, NS) put a backhand from in close top shelf at 14:13 on the powerplay to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead after the second period.
As the third period was in progress, Moncton got one back when Marie-Pier Corriveau (Magog, QC) skated in, cut in front, and put one in at 2:41 to make it 3-2. Dalhousie answered when MacLean cut in front herself, took her time, and put it in at 7:03; with the goal adding to her four assists on the night; to make the score 4-2. The Tigers got another one when Tara Morning (Aurora, ON) put a goal in from the circle at 11:37 on the powerplay to make it 5-2. Dalhousie padded their lead when Phillips kept the puck on a 2 on 1 and put it home at 17:26 to make the score 6-2. Dalhousie added additional insurance when Keana Oshowy (Woodbridge, ON) put in an empty netter at 18:27, sealing the victory.
The Tigers outshot the Aigles Bleues 36-31. Fabiana Petricca (Woodbridge, ON) made 29 saves for the Tigers, while Gabrielle Forget (Joliette, QC) also stopped 29 for the Aigles Bleues.
Game two of this series goes Friday at 7:00 pm in Moncton.