Game recap by: Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – In Wednesday evening hockey action, the Dalhousie Tigers hosted the Mount Allison Mounties at the Halifax Forum. After the Tigers tied it up with under ten seconds to go, the Mounties were able to find a goal in overtime to take the 4-3 win.
The Tigers had a few long stretches of possession in the Mounties end early, but they were forced to take shots from the outside that Kaitlin Mowbray (Whitby, ON) had a clear line of sight to, and Mowbray was up to the task for 13 stops early.
The Mounties were first to get on the board, midway through the first period countering a long period of attacking pressure from the Tigers. The puck worked down low in the Tigers end, and Abby Beale (Sackville, NB) sent a pass out front that was deflected and caused a scramble. The puck found its way out to the left side of the crease where Emma Schurman (Oakville, ON) was in the right place to snap it over the shoulder of Taylor Beam (Brooklin, ON) to open the scoring.
The Tigers were able to even it up before the period was over however when the Tigers broke into the zone and a shot off the stick of Amy Wilson (Mississauga, ON) was stopped by Mowbray, but the rebound bounced right in front for Brooklyn Paisley (Shawinigan Lake, BC). Mowbray dove across the crease to make an attempt at the save, but Paisley was able to lift it over the outstretched glove to tie it up at 1-1 as the teams went into the first intermission.
The Mounties opened up the second on a power play opportunity, and were able to capitalize early.
As the puck worked around, the Tigers were able to get bodies in front of shots early during the penalty kill, but as a shot from Rhiannon Ford (Oakville, ON) was stopped by Beam, a hard rebound jumped right back into the slot for Heather Richards (St. Anthony, NL) to hammer home to give the Mounties the lead once again.
The Tigers had a great opportunity to tie it up late in the period when Meghan Anton (Kitchener, ON) broke into the zone, drove deep below the goal-line and cut back in front of the net before getting tripped up before she could get a shot off. This left the puck right in front for Keana Oshowy (Woodbridge, ON) with Mowbray sprawled in the crease. Oshowy took a quick swing at it, but the puck rang off the post and stayed out.
With that, the teams went into the final period with the Mounties leading 2-1.
The Mounties once again had a great opportunity at the beginning of the period just seconds in when Jessica Desautels (Oakville, ON) fired a shot from the slot, and the rebound bounced off the pad of Beam and back into the slot for Richards looking for her second of the game, but Beam was able to drop to her side and make a fantastic save with an outstretched arm.
The Tigers were given a power play midway through the period, but the spent much of it in their own end. After a bad pass in front of their own net by a Tigers defender, Julia Auroroa (Ottawa, ON) had the puck below the goal-line for the Mounties. Aurora spotted Cora Place (Rocky View, AB) driving into the slot and hit her with a perfect pass. Place squared up with plenty of time and picked her spot over the blocker side shoulder of Beam to give the Mounties a 3-1 lead.
Just few short minutes after the power play had ended, the Tigers were able to bring themselves back within one, off of a long shot from the half-boards from Meghan Anton that just squeaked through the pads of Mowbray to make it 3-2 with just five minutes to go.
The Tigers pulled Beam with just a minute to go, and it worked out in their favour with Brooklyn Paisley streaking down below the goal-line and on the wrap-around attempt, Paisley was able to jam it home to tie the game up with just nine seconds left in the game.
With that the game headed to overtime.
It only took one minute of overtime to find a winner as Maddy Koughan (Mermaid, PEI) broke into the Tigers end past a defender and sent a shot towards the goal from a tough angle, but ended up sliding into the goaltender afterward. The puck was still free in the crease and Jessica Desautels was able to quickly snap it home for the game winning goal.
The game winner also earned Desautels the Subway Player of the Game honour.
The Tigers will be back on the ice on Saturday when they play against Saint Mary's. Mount Allison will also play on Saturday when they host St. Thomas.