Panthers shut out Tigers in a tight defensive game

Written by Josh Young, Dalhousie Athletics

The UPEI Panthers shut out the Dalhousie Tigers 1-0 to give them a six-point cushion over the Tigers who are one spot below them in the standings.

The Panthers scored the game's only goal three-and-a-half-minutes into the game. Kaiya Maracle (Toronto, ON) weaved her way into the offensive zone but lost the puck and it went loose in the slot. Tiah Scichilone (Saint John, NB) got to it first and backhanded the puck into the back of the net.

Mackenzie Drake (Dartmouth, NS) had the best chance to score in the first period for the Tigers. She stole the puck in the offensive zone and went on a partial breakaway. She was hooked but still managed to get a backhand shot off, but Panthers' goalie Sarah Forsythe (Riverview, NB) made the pad save.

The second period was a tightly played with neither team allowing shots in close. Taylor Gillis (Summerside, PE) for the Panthers had the best chance to score when she took advantage of a turnover at the side of the net and immediately shot but Dalhousie's goalie Grace Beer (Oakville, ON) made the save. Panther Chiara Esposito (Winnipeg, MB) was sent on a wide-open breakaway, but time was running out and she had to shoot from just inside the blueline and didn't score.

Abby Wamboldt (Hammonds Plains, NS) was the most dangerous Tiger in the second period. She had a chance after being fed the puck in the slot but was hauled down. Near the end of the period, she barreled down the right wing and fired a shot on goal forcing Forsythe to make the glove save.

The Tigers were pushing to tie the game in the third with firing several good scoring chances on goal. Wamboldt charged to the front of the net and tried to beat Forsythe wide, but the goalie stretched out to make the save.

However, the Tigers weren't helping themselves. They received three penalties in the period and although they killed them all off, it still burned six minutes.

The Tigers pulled the goalie with a 1:54 left in the game. They pressed and Natasha Falk (Brandon, MB) got a backhand shot from a rebound in the slot but couldn't score and UPEI won 1-0.

The Panthers narrowly outshot the Tigers 26-24. Forsythe stopped all 24 shots she faced while Beer stopped 25. Both teams went 0/4 on the power play.

The Tigers play next on Friday when they visit Mount Allison, however, they're home the following night when they take on St. Thomas. UPEI also play next on Friday at home against Moncton.