Beer backstops Tigers to win

Dalhousie secured a 3-2 shootout victory over Saint Mary's on Saturday.

The first period of the game saw each team scoring once. Dalhousie opened the scoring at 8:56 with a power-play goal by Madison Wardle, assisted by Gabrielle Noordijk, following a penalty on Abigail MacKenzie for body checking. The Huskies responded at 16:07 when Erin Denny scored, assisted by Anna Barrington and Eva MacKay, leveling the score. The period concluded with a penalty on Avery Holmes for goaltender interference, giving the Huskies a power-play opportunity as the period ended.

The second period began with a faceoff won by the Huskies, followed by several missed shots from both teams, with Dalhousie's Grace Beer making key saves. At 4:30, Emma Penner scored Dalhousie's only goal of the period, assisted by Natasha Falk, bringing Dalhousie ahead 2-1. The Huskies had two power-play opportunities due to penalties on Emma Silvernagle and Leah MacSween, but failed to capitalize as Beer continued to block their attempts. The period ended with a flurry of shots from the Huskies, all saved by Beer, maintaining Dalhousie's lead.

The third period saw significant action, beginning with a strong defensive effort from both teams. At 3:58, the Huskies' Jillian Duggan received a two-minute penalty for body checking, giving Dalhousie a power play, though they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity. The Huskies regained momentum with a goal by Ashley Penney at 17:50, assisted by MacKenzie and Keyara Nelson, tying the game. 

The overtime period began with a faceoff win for Dalhousie by Leah MacSween. Early in the period, both teams exchanged missed shots, with Jillian Duggan of the Huskies and MacSween of Dalhousie each being stopped by goalkeepers Beer and Ridleigh Hansen. Dalhousie continued to put pressure on the Huskies with shots from Avery Holmes and Abby Larkin, but Ridleigh Hansen made key saves to keep the game scoreless.

In the shootout, Mollie Power converted the first shot for the Tigers and Beer stopped all three SMU shooters to win the game.

Emma Penner stood out with a goal and a plus/minus rating of +1, contributing effectively on offense and defense. Madison Wardle played a key role with a power-play goal and a plus/minus of +2, showcasing her ability to capitalize on special teams. Leah MacSween excelled in the faceoff circle, winning 17 of 24 faceoffs, demonstrating her critical role in puck possession. Grace Beer, the goaltender, recorded 33 saves, playing a vital role in maintaining the team's defensive strength.