Game recap by: Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – In the annual Bell Let's Talk game at the Halifax Forum, the Dalhousie Tigers took on l'Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues to support an important cause. With some late game heroics, the Tigers were able to take a 3-2 win for 2 important points.
L'Aigles Bleues were first to find the back of the net in the game off a Tigers turnover at their own blue line and Maelle Rioux (Quebec, QC) was left all alone against Fabianna Petricca (Woodbridge, ON). Rioux made a great move to cut across the crease and force Petricca to make a move before dancing around her and sliding the puck in the open cage.
The Tigers were given a few opportunities to find the equalizer on partial break plays, but Audrey Berthiaume was solid each time.
L'Aigles Bleues held a long stretch of pressure in the Tigers end at the end of the period, but the Tigers were finally able to clear their zone as the buzzer went to end the period with just the one goal.
This time the Tigers were able to strike early in the period, after Annika Rose (North Vancouver, BC) made a break into the zone and was taken down behind the goal line. Moncton attempted to clear the puck and move up the ice but the clearing attempt was blocked and sent in to Rose who was all alone with plenty of space to pick her spot over the blocker and tie it up at 1-1.
Late in the period during 4-on-3 action, Katryne Villeneuve (Casselman, ON) made a great play to chip the puck off the boards around a Tiger defender and spring herself alone on a breakaway.
Villeneuve faked to the backhand and pulled back to the forehand, which had Petricca moving the opposite way, and Villeneuve was able to easily tap in the go-ahead goal.
That shorthanded goal had Moncton leading 2-1 going into the third.
Both teams showed great stints of attacking pressure in the third period, with Moncton getting the better of the chances on the power play, but midway through the period Keana Oshowy (Woodbridge, ON) was able to pick the pocket of a Moncton defender and was all alone in front. Oshowy cut across the crease and waited long enough to get around a diving Berthiaume and send home the tying goal.
Moncton took a costly penalty late in the period with the game still tied, and the Tigers were able to capitalize. Working the puck along the point, Rose fired a hard slap shot through a big crowd in front that Berthiaume couldn't get eyes on. The puck rang off the far side post, across the goal line to the second post and just barely crossed the goal line before it was cleared. After a discussion between the officials, it was ruled a goal for Rose, and the Tigers took a 3-2 lead with under two minutes to go.
Moncton sent out an extra attacker, but there just wasn't enough time for them to generate a chance, as time ran out and the Tigers held on to take the 3-2 win.
Rose was named the Subway Player of the Game in the win, scoring two goals, including the game winner.
The Tigers will have a quick turnaround as they head to Antigonish to take on StFX on Wednesday, while l'Aigles Bleues will also be on the road on Wednesday when they take on UNB.