Stanwood scores in 3-1 loss to Huskies

(Halifax, NS) In their "Pink the Rink" game on Wednesday night at the Dauphinee Centre, the Saint Mary's Huskies hosted the Dalhousie Tigers in AUS women's hockey action. After the game stayed close on the scoreboard through two periods of play, the Huskies dominated the third period to get a 3-1 win.  

The first period started with a slow pace. The Tigers didn't get a shot on net until nearly eight minutes into the game as they relied on a dump and chase strategy to get zone time. They put five shots on net in the first frame.  

The best chance of the period belonged to Saint Mary's, as Taylor Gravelle's (Lumsden, SK) shot from the point and the rebound went to Ellen Laurence (Kentville, NS), who couldn't quite corral the bouncing puck.  

The Huskies had a few chances on a power play in the second half of the period as the Tigers collapsed very low on the penalty kill. Controlling the play, the Huskies still couldn't get past goalie Fabiana Petricca (Woodbridge, ON). She turned aside 16 shots in the first period.  

The score was 0-0 after twenty minutes of play.  

In the second period, Taylor Keeping (Hackett's Cove, NS) came close to opening the scoring as she powered down the right wing and wired a shot off the crossbar. Getting some momentum from the rush, the Huskies spent the next several minutes putting pressure in the Tigers end.   

However, penalties taken by the Huskies meant chances for Dalhousie, and they capitalized. On a five on three advantage halfway through the period, Natalie Stanwood (West Vancouver, BC) went down to her knees to stop a clearing attempt along the half wall. Jumping back to her feet, she dangled around two Huskies defenders and put a wrist shot top shelf short side past goalie Rebecca Clark (Keswick, ON). Tara Morning (Aurora, ON) and Danika Phillips (Barrie, ON) assisted on the goal.  

The second period ended with the Tigers up 1-0. Saint Mary's led in shots 13-3 in the middle frame.  

In the third, power plays gave the Huskies an edge.  SMU tied the game with ten minutes into the third on a cross-crease pass by Brooke Murphy (Balla Philip, NB) that bounced off a skate and into the net.  Siobhan Birch (Mississauga, ON) and Kiana Wilkinson (Prince George, BC) got assists on the goal.   

Again, on the man advantage, Laurence scored with under seven minutes to go to put the Huskies up by one. Her shot, walking in from the top of the circle, beat Petricca glove side. Keeping and Murphy assisted on the goal.  

With a minute and a half to go, a 2 on 0 down low in the Huskies' favor saw a back and forth passing play that left Petricca scrambling. Shae Demale (Red Deer, AB) got a tap in goal to make it 3-1 for Saint Mary's, and that would be it for the rest of the game.  

The Subway Player of the Game was Brooke Murphy from Saint Mary's.  

Up next, The Tigers travel to Antigonish on November 1st to take on the StFX X-Women, while the Huskies host the Mount Allison Mounties on Sunday, November 3rd.