Written by Ryan Hyndman, Dalhousie Athletics
The Dalhousie Tigers women's hockey team opened their 2023-24 season with an 8-1 win over the Mount Allison Mounties on Wednesday night.
The Tigers got their first powerplay opportunity less than a minute into the first. Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB) narrowly missed a rebound chance in front before Kennedy Whalen (Alliston, ON) found the top corner off a nice pass from Isabella Weist (Torbay, NL) to make it 1-0 Tigers. The Mounties then got their first chance on the powerplay just a minute later. Besides a long shot from the point from Myah Stanfield, the Tigers didn't allow much and maintained their lead. Back on even strength, the Tigers took off on a 2-on-1, stopped by Kaitlyn Evelyn making a beautiful save to send play the other way where Reese Chuback had a great chance to tie the game, but was stopped by Grace Beer (Oakville, ON).
With 11 minutes left in the first Mount Allison got their second powerplay, which was cut short by taking a penalty of their own for some 4-on-4 hockey. The teams traded chances over the next few minutes before Regan Duffy (Burlington, ON) burst in alone and found the back of the net to make it 2-0 Tigers. Then with just 16 seconds left, the Mounties were able to break through with Tallon Stephenson able to slide it home, cutting the lead to 2-1 at the end of the first.
Early in the second period the Mounties went to the box again and the Dalhousie offense went to work gaining plenty of chances against the Mounties, before a strong point shot from Gabrielle Noordijk (Oakville, ON) went top corner for a 3-1 Tigers lead.
Just moments later Evelyn would have to leave the game with an injury, and Hanna Pagdato entered the goal for Mount Allison. An efficient Tigers powerplay was able to strike again with Whalen scoring her second of the night, making it 4-1. Not done there, Dalhousie was still on the powerplay and Eustace capitalized to extend the lead to 5-1 with nine minutes left. Continuing a strong offensive night, Eustace was able to notch her second of the night late in the period, which saw the Tigers take a 6-1 lead to the final frame.
Picking up right where they left off, Dalhousie opened the scoring in the third with a goal from Abby Wamboldt (Hammonds Plains, NS) nearly 60 seconds in, making it 7-1. While the Tigers stayed on the attack, Pagdato made a fantastic leg stop trying to spark anything for the Mounties. Getting some offensive zone time, Mount Allison started to find a few chances, including a nice point shot from Julia Lee, but Beer was able to make the saves and maintain the six-goal lead for the Tigers. With under ten minutes left in the game, Dalhousie was able to find another one as Anika Curri found the top of the net, furthering the score to 8-1 for the Tigers. In the final minutes, Mount Allison got one last powerplay opportunity to test Beer, but she stood tall closing out the 8-1 for Dalhousie.
Kennedy Whelan was named the player of the game for her three point performance.
The Tigers will look to get another win when they are back in action against the St. Mary's Huskies on Friday, October 6th at 7:00pm in Halifax at the Forum.
Mount Allison will look to bounce back in their next game against the STFX X-Women also on Friday, October 6th at 7:00pm in Antigonish.