Tigers fall short in shootout loss

By Daniel Simpkin 

The Dalhousie Tigers lost to the St. Thomas Tommies 3-2 in a shootout at the Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Friday, November 26^th. 

The Tigers got off to a quick start behind Isabella Weist (Torbay, NL) who scored the opening goal of the game off of an assist from Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB) three minutes into the first period. 

Halfway through the first period, Alix Yallowega (Winnipeg, MB) was sent off for body checking which gave the Tommies a player advantage and an opportunity to level the score. 

However, behind the strong goaltending of Taylor Beam (Brooklin, ON) the Tigers were able to hold off the surging Tommies offence through the powerplay. 

Momentum continued to favour the Tigers throughout the first period when Kennedy Whelan (Alliston, ON) slipped a shot past the Tommies goaltender and scored Dalhousie's second goal of the game with six minutes left to play in the first period. 

Shortly after, frustration from Tommies forward Ekaterina Pelowich (Stouffville, ON) boiled over and illegal body checking sent her to the penalty box giving the Tigers their first powerplay of the game. 

The Tigers closed out the first period with a 2-0 lead and were in both top offensive and defensive form. 

Neither team was able to find the scoring formula throughout the entire second period. Despite spending six minutes down a player due to a variety of penalties, the Tigers held on to their 2-0 lead going into the break. 

Beam continued to be a force for the Tigers defence with 18 saves after the second period. Meanwhile, Tommies goaltender, Caroline Pietroski (Etobicoke, ON), had made up for allowing two early goals and closed out the second period with 16 saves of her own. 

The Tommies picked up a much-needed goal 10 minutes into the third period - scored by Erin Arsenault (Oakville, ON). 

In the closing minute of the third period, Tommies forward Megan Pardy (Courtice, ON) came up with a clutch goal shortly after her team pulled their goalkeeper in a last-ditch effort to tie the game. 

The third period ended in a 2-2 tie and the teams prepared for the overtime. 

The Tigers again leaned on Beam to safeguard the net through the first two minutes of overtime as she deflected two close Tommies shots. 

Despite some close calls on both ends, neither team came up with the game-winning goal and the teams huddled in preparation for a shootout. 

The Tommies won the shootout with one goal to zero and won the game 3-2. 

Notable performances included Isabella Weist and Kennedy Whelan's goals for Dalhousie as well as Erin Arsenault and Megan Pardy's tying goal in the third period. 

Lauren Legault scored the shootout winner for the Tommies and was awarded Subway Player of the Game honours. 

Up next, the Tommies face the StFX X-Women on November 27^th while the Tigers, who are done for the first half, play the Saint Mary's Huskies in an exhibition match on December 30^th.