Written by: Cody Baugh
(Halifax, NS) On Wednesday night at the Halifax Forum the Saint Mary's Huskies beat the Dalhousie Tigers in overtime 2-1. Special teams played a prominent role in this one as the Tigers went scoreless on eight power play chances and the Huskies came away with two shorthanded goals.
It was all Huskies in the first period as they managed to hem the Tigers in their own zone for majority of the frame. Mati Barrett was tested earlier as Saint Mary's forward, Caitlyn Schell received a back door pass but could not beat a sliding Barrett in the opening minute of play.
After a battle on the half boards, Schell managed to slip from two Dalhousie defenders and fed Nicole Blanche who was left all alone in front of the Tigers cage. Barrett had no chance on Blanche's quick one-timer.
Saint Mary's headed into the dressing room up 1-0 after the first period of play.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the second period, which saw little even strength play. Dalhousie played the role of an agitator, driving the net hard, baiting Saint Mary's into undisciplined penalties. Despite the six minutes of power play time in the period the Tigers could not capitalize.
Breanna Lanceleve had the best chance of the frame when she was sprung on a breakaway but could not solve Barrett.
The Tigers turned up the pressure in the final 10 minutes of the game, throwing everything in the direction of Huskies goalie, Rebecca Clarke. After some clutch saves by Clarke, Dalhousie finally managed to find the back of the net with just over four minutes remaining in the game. On a broken play Joleen MacInnis found Lisa MacLean on the far post who finished off the play and tied the game at 1-1.
Neither team could find the winner before the end of regulation.
After an early SMU penalty Dalhousie was sent to the power play. Schell scored the game winner on the ensuing penalty kill after intercepting a pass at her own blue line and beating Barrett on the breakaway.
Dalhousie (6-8-1) will host the UPEI Panthers (2-9-3) on Saturday, January 16th while the Huskies (12-3) have the Panthers on Sunday, January 17th.