Hockey Tigers drop 7-4 decision to STU

(Fredericton, NB) The forecast called for 20-25 cm of snow and plenty of goals at the Grant Harvey Centre as the St. Thomas University Tommies defeated the Dalhousie University Tigers on Friday night 7-4.  

The Tigers struck first at it was Lauren Ellerton (Toronto, ON) who scored as a Tommies penalty had just expired, beating Tommies goalie Taylor Cook (Brantford, ON) high on the glove side.  

Midway through the period, as play opened up for both teams, Lauren Henman (Cow Bay, NS) stepped across the blue line and hammered a slap shot over the glove of Tigers goalie Fabiana Petricca (Woodbridge, ON).  

Shots at the end of the period were 14-10 for STU as it was a fast-paced game for both teams.  

"We want to play fast. That's what we have been preaching all year," said head coach Peter Murphy. "We feel like when we play fast, we are usually doing good things. Really putting pressure on other teams. A lot of teams really don't like playing at the pace we play at." 

The second period opened up even more as the teams combined for seven goals in the period. 29 seconds into the period Henman scored her second of the game, coming off a mad scramble in front of the net and the puck slid just far enough across the line. Brooklyn Paisley (Shawnigan Lake, BC) scored for the Tigers three minutes later and Tara Morning (Aurora, ON) regained the Tigers lead on a great individual effort to beat a STU defender and then score on the backhand.  

Danielle Ring (Saint John, NB) tied things up for the Tommies when she deflected a wrist shot from Alex Woods (Courtice, ON) before Woods would get a goal of her own with a beautiful wrist shot over the glove of Petricca.  

Henman would complete her hattrick off a rebound and Becky Conner (East St. Paul, MB) would round out the scoring in the period with 35 seconds remaining when she picked up a loose puck and deked forehand to backhand.  

With St. Thomas leading 6-3 going into the final frame 1st year goaltender Taylor Beam (Brooklin, ON) would finish off the game for the Tigers.  

Elizabeth Klimm (West Kelowna, BC) would score a shorthanded goal for the Tigers and Stephanie Ford (Cobourg, ON) scored into the empty net for STU to round out the scoring for both teams.  

Henman is now tied for the league lead in goals with 9 for the Tommies, who have a 3-point cushion for 1st place in the AUS.      

The Tigers will stay in Fredericton to face the UNB Reds on Saturday, while the Tommies host the UdeM Aigles Bleues on Sunday afternoon.