Huskies Top Tommies 3-2 to Take 1-0 Lead in AUS Women’s Hockey Final

(Halifax, NS)  The top seeded Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the third seeded St. Thomas Tommies 3-2 Friday night at Alumni Arena in game one of their best of three AUS women's hockey final.

Saint Mary's got on the board first in timely fashion when Subway player of the game Gemma Macdonald (Blooming Point, PEI) scored off a backhand in front at 2:12 to make it 1-0. The Huskies got another one when MacDonald made it two in a row from the circle at 17:05 to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead after the first period. In the second period, St. Thomas got one back when Kelty Apperson (New Hamburg, ON) tallied off a rebound in front at 3:12 on the powerplay to get it to 2-1. The Huskies responded when Caitlyn Schell (Waterford, ON) potted a marker off another rebound in front at 17:00 to restore the two goal lead at 3-1 after two periods. In the third, the Tommies kept pace when Lauren Henman (Cow Bay, NS) scored off a third rebound in front at 8:22 to get it to within one again, but could not get the equalizer despite constant pressuring and multiple chances.

The Tommies outshot the Huskies 26-21. Rebecca Clark (Keswick, ON) made 24 saves to get the win for the Huskies. Taylor Cook (Brantford, ON) stopped 18 shots in goal for the Tommies.

The Huskies will have a chance to clinch the championship when they visit the Tommies for game two on Sunday at 3:00 pm.

Source SMU communications, photo Wes Wilcox