Huskies best Tigers 5-3

The Saint Mary's Huskies women's hockey team continued their winning ways Friday night with a 5-3 victory over their crosstown rivals, the Dalhousie Tigers. 

This was the fourth time the Tigers and Huskies have met this season, with the Huskies winning all three previous encounters. That trend continued tonight as the Huskies won 5-3, extending their win streak to 8 games.  

This was also Saint Mary's goalie Ashley Forler's (Kitchener ON / Science) first game between the pipes for the Huskies. Forler conceded the first goal of the game, just after a minute was played. Brooklyn Paisley fired a shot at the Huskies net that was saved by Forler, but the rebound was found, and poked home by Olivia Eustace.  

The rest of the period was a tight affair, with both teams having good chances, and zone time. But after the first minute neither team was able to capitalize on any of their chances.  

Huskies started the second period strong, and started dictating the flow of the game. Maddy Corbett (Sydney NS / Science) scored for the Huskies on a powerplay after crashing the net and collecting a loose puck in the Tigers crease.  

The Tigers found themselves shorthanded again a few minutes later, and Ellen Laurence ( Kentville NS / Commerce) snapped a shot from the circles that beat Taylor Beam as it hit the top corner of the net. 

As the Tigers were chasing an equalizer, they worked their way into a two and one and Forler came flying across the net to stop the puck. The Huskies' responded with a two on one of their own, but Mary McDonald's (Calgary AB / Science) shot was stopped. McDonald grabbed her own rebound, skated behind the net and scored on a wrap around.  

The Huskies seemed to be cruising to a victory, but with 10 minutes left, the Huskies gave the puck away right in front of their net. Kaela Thomson took the gift in the slot and backhanded the Tigers to within one.  

Not two minutes later Tigers Brooklyn Paisley got in behind the Huskies defenders and scored an equalizing goal through Forler's five hole.  

Less than one minute after that the Huskies stormed back into the Tigers end and Kara MacLean (Antigonish NS / Science) scored a scrappy goal to increase the Huskies lead to one. 

The Huskies were able to close out the game, thanks in large part to the Tiger's captain taking a penalty with 2:15 left to play. Shae Demale (Red Deer AB / Science) put the icing on the cake, scoring an empty net goal to secure the 5-3 win.  

With the win, the Huskies, currently ranked #2 in the country, improve to 11-1-1 on the campaign. Kara MacLean was named Subway AUS Player of the Game with one goal and two assists. 

The Huskies are in action again Sunday afternoon as they travel to St. Francis Xavier to take on the X-Women. The Tigers are in action tomorrow night, as they host the Moncton Aigles Bleues at the Forum.