Game recap by: Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – On an action-packed homecoming weekend for the Dalhousie Tigers, the St. Thomas Tommies were in town to visit at the Civic Centre in Halifax. The game was the season opener for the Tigers, and in a high-scoring affair, they were able to come away with a 5-4 victory over the Tommies.
The game was off to a quick start for the Tigers as they found a goal less than a minute into the contest. Tigers defender Natalie Stanwood (West Vancouver, BC) took a shot from the line that was blocked by a Tommies defender, but was able to recover the puck and walked off the half-board and sent a wrist shot just over the pad of Tommies goalie, Abby Clarke (Springdale, NL).
St. Thomas was able to come back with a quick one of their own, as a quick chip ahead lead to a rush down the ice. Tommies forward Lauren Henman (Cow Bay, NS) broke into the zone and fired a hard shot that was knocked down by Tigers netminder, Fabiana Petricca (Woodbridge, ON), but the rebound dropped right to a streaking Olivia Reid (Aurora, ON), who was able to tap home the rebound to tie it up at 1-1.
The scoring in the period didn't stop there, as Tommies forward Stephanie Ford (Cobourg, ON) pulled a nifty toe-drag around a defender to get behind the net, and was able to sneak it between the goalie's skate and the post on a wrap-around attempt.
And with that, the first period came to a close with St. Thomas leading 2-1.
The Tigers once again started the period furiously as a misplayed pass back to a Tommie defender allowed Autumn Moors (Ottawa, ON) to get free on a breakaway. Moors faked right, pulled back left and sent a back-hand into the top corner to tie it up for the Tigers.
St. Thomas once again came right back with a goal of their own. Just minutes later, a shot from the point caused a scramble in front of the Tigers net and Rebecca Conner (East St. Paul, MB) was in the right place to jam it home and give the Tommies a 3-2 lead.
The Tigers were still resilient as they worked the puck into the attacking zone. The puck was worked around by the Tigers, as Lisa MacLean (Inverness, NS) found defencewoman Ariana Pinchuk (Sherwood Park, AB), who let a long shot go from the point that found its way through a crowd to beat Clarke and tie the game once again.
Fortunate bounces seemed to be going both ways in the game, as the puck that was pinned along the boards in the Tigers end, popped out into the slot and allowed Olivia Reid to walk in and rip a shot from the hash-marks for her second of the game.
The goal filled period came to a conclusion with the Tommies leading 4-3.
The trend of early goals continued for the Tigers, as just two minutes into the period, Keana Oshowy (Woodbridge, ON) broke out of the Tigers zone directly off of a faceoff, and was sent in alone. Oshowy came down the middle, straight at Clarke, and broke left to the backhand at the last second and slid it under the pad to tie it once again for the Tigers at 4-4.
Halfway through the third period, and odd-man breaks continued to be the way the goals came in the contest, as the Tigers found themselves breaking in on a 2-on-1. Lauren Ellerton (Toronto, ON) was coming down the left side and sent a great pass across to Autumn Moors, who cut back with the goalie going the opposite way and tucked it home to give the Tigers their first lead of the game with her second goal.
A late power play gave the Tommies an opportunity to tie it up in the dying minutes, but they were unable to put shots towards the goal. The Tigers were able to clear the puck and kill of the dangerous penalty.
The first lead the Tigers took ended up being the one that was needed to seal the victory, as time ran out with the final score at 5-4.
The Subway Player of the Game was Tigers Autumn Moors for her two goals in the contest, including the game winner.
The Tigers will look to keep the momentum rolling tomorrow as they travel to take on Mount Allison, and the Tommies will face StFX next Friday at home.