Game recap by Kirk Jessome
(Halifax, NS) – Coming off of their first win of the season on Wednesday, the Dalhousie Tigers hosted the Saint Thomas Tommies on Friday night. The Tigers picked up two goals in the second period which proved to be the difference, as they came away with a 4-1 victory.
The game started at a furious pace, with both teams testing each other's respective goaltenders with 2-on-1 chances going both ways.
As the teams settled into a bit of a slower pace, the physicality picked up, resulting in eight penalties being assessed in the period.
The Tigers were the first to be on the wrong side of a long 5-on-3 opportunity, but Fabiana Petricca (Woodbridge, ON) showed great positioning to make tough saves from post to post to help her team kill off the penalties.
Just a few minutes later, the Tommies took back to back penalties and quickly found themselves down two players for a full minute. The Tigers did a nice job of keeping the puck moving along the perimeter, and a shot from Isabella Weist (Torbay, NL) along the boards created a scrum in front of the crease, and Tara Morning (Aurora, ON) was able to get a stick on it and send it home to open the scoring.
With that, the first period came to a close with the Tigers leading 1-0.
The Tigers opened the period with a quick goal as Abigail Shearer (Falmouth, NS) drove into the corner and sent a pass into the high-slot for Taylor Joyce (Halifax, NS) who sent a high shot into a crowd. The shot was deflected off of a Tommies defender in front and fooled Caroline Pietroski (Etobicoke, ON) who thought it was going high, but dropped through the five-hole to make it 2-0.
Looking to get one of those goals back, the Tommies were able to generate some offense in the attacking zone, but after a turnover at the blueline, the Tigers were able to counter with a 2-on-1 chance. Joyce broke down the right side, elected to take the shot herself, and sent a perfectly placed shot over the glove of Pietroski for three unanswered goals and Joyce's second of the night.
The Tommies were finally able to get their offense rolling and get a goal back before the period ended. After a long stint of pressure, the Tommies had to clear the zone and as they set up across the blueline, Olivia Reid (Aurora, ON) hit Alex Woods (Courtice, ON) in stride and she fired a high shot into the top corner over the shoulder of Petricca to make it 3-1 going into the final period.
Coming out of the intermission with a renewed energy in their offense, the Tommies continued to put plenty of pressure on the Tigers defence early in the third period. The best chance coming on another 2-on-1 opportunity where Woods took a great shot at the far side post, looking for her second goal of the game, but Petricca was able to stay tall and deflect it away with her shoulder to maintain the lead.
Continuing to pour on the pressure, the Tommies were able to spring Olivia Reid alone on a breakaway. Reid took a quick wrist shot from the hash marks, but Petricca read it perfectly to make a great glove save.
Still down by two in the dying minutes, the Tommies pulled Pietroski for the extra attacker, but Lauren Ellerton (Toronto, ON) was able to send the puck the full length of the ice for an empty-net goal to seal a 4-1 win.
Taylor Joyce led the Tigers to the win with two goals, including the game-winner to be named the Subway Player of the Game. Petricca was also fantastic in the win, making 44 saves while allowing just one goal.
The Tigers will begin a four-game road trip starting next Friday when they travel to take on UPEI. The Tommies will stay in Halifax to take on Saint Mary's tomorrow.