Tigers down Aigles Bleues 5-2
Eustace moves into top spot in scoring race in win.
(Halifax) - The Dalhousie Tigers won a pivotal game versus the UdeM Aigles Bleues 5-2 on Saturday night at the Halifax Forum.
With the win, Dalhousie jumped Moncton in the AUS standings to move into fifth place in the AUS and sets up a massive Friday night game against cross city rivals Saint Mary's with fourth place on the line.
Out of the gate the Tigers went on the forecheck.
Brooklyn Paisley (Shawnigan Lake, BC) caused havoc in the offensive zone which led to her own shot that bounced off Audrey Berthiaume's (St-Bruno, QC) pads towards Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB), but Moncton defenders managed to get a stick on Eustace.
The Tigers continued to press the Aigles Bleues and after a two on one break with Abby Walmboldt (Hammonds Plains, NS) and Emma Penner (Niagara on the Lake, ON), Emma Bishop (Bedford, NS) knocked the puck past Berthiaume for the first goal of the game.
Dalhousie wasted no time adding to their lead when less than a minute later, Kennedy Whelan's (Alliston, ON) shot from the top of the left circle-with some help from a screen by Izzy Weist (Torbay, NL)-got past Berthiaume.
Much later in the period, Laura Tremblay (Québec, QC) swung momentum in the Aigles Bleues corner by setting up Aryann Lamoureaux (St-Hyacinthe, QC) on a breakaway, but Grace Beer (Oakville, ON) turned the shot away.
Beer's save proved to be vital as moments later UdeM found the back of the net.
This came when Shani Rossignol (Notre Dame de Lourdes, NB) dished the puck to Isadora Quirion (Saint-Gédéon de Beauce, QC) cross crease, which she put past a diving Beer.
Despite losing the two goal lead, the Tigers headed to the break up 2-1.
The teams gave little to no space for any opportunities five minutes into the new period, with the most dangerous chance being a shot from the point that Beer was initially not able to swallow up, and the puck laid in front of an open net for a moment until the netminder pounced on the puck.
After a failed power play by the Tigers, the Aigles Bleues buried Dalhousie in their own zone until Valérie Haché (Shippagan, NB) below the goal line found Maritza Labrie (Saint-Quentin, NB) who beat Beer far side.
With 56 seconds in the period Dalhousie went on the power play and 10 seconds into the man advantage Paisley's shot from the right side went through screens in front to beat Berthiaume.
After the late goal Dalhousie headed into intermission up 3-2.
Chances came faster this period as Tremblay stole the puck from the Tigers defenceman at Moncton's own blue line, then went one on one with the other defender, but Beer saved the shot.
The Tigers added to the lead off of the duo of Paisley and Eustace, as Eustace received the pass from Paisley then instantly blasted the puck short side into the net.
With the goal Eustace took the scoring lead across the AUS for her 14th goal of the season.
Bishop snapped a top shelf powerplay marker for her second of the night, and ended Moncton's night with a 5-2 loss.
Paisley came out with Player of the Game.
The Aigles Bleues will look to get back into the win column Friday against St. Thomas.
PHOTOS BY: Nick Pearce