Huskies score four in third to top Aigles Bleus 6-3

(Halifax, NS) The Saint Mary's University Huskies scored four goals in the third period to beat the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus on Thursday Jan. 12 at Alumni Arena in Halifax NS. The win puts the Huskies at 12-1-2 and 26 points on the season, just three-points back of the STU Tommies for first in the AUS. The loss drops the Aigles Bleus to 5-8-3 with 13 points that have them in fifth in the AUS.

Both the Tommies and the Huskies have clinched their spots in the AUS playoffs.

Rebecca Clark made 24 saves for the Huskies highlighted by a series of stellar stops at the end of the second with the Aigles Bleus on a five-on-three power play. Her record now sits at 8-1-2 on the season.

Nicole Blanche (Dunville, NF) (4), Siobhan Birch (Mississauga, ON) (6,7), Brooke Murphy (Bala Philip, NB) (1), Kiana Wilkinson (Prince George, BC) (1) and Caitlyn Manning (Cambridge, ON) (7) scored the goals for the Huskies. Murphy's goal was the first of her AUS career.

Gabrielle Forget (Joliette, QC) made 19 saves for the Aigles Bleus and had little chance on most of the Huskies goals, as her record falls to 5-7.

Marie-Pier Corriveau (Magog, QC) (5), Katherine Dubuc (Victoriaville, QC) (3) and Janelle Graham (Dieppe, NB) (2) responded with the goals for the Aigles Bleus.

It took the Huskies just 0:22 into the first to open the scoring. Breanna Lanceleve (Middle Sackville, NS) streaked in on the left wing on a two-on-one with Blanche, Blanche drove hard for the right post and had a tap in off a perfect pass from Lanceleve.

The Aigles Bleus responded with a power play goal just over three minutes later at the 4:00 mark of the first. Katryne Villeneuve (Casselman, ON) took a shot from the right point that was tipped in front by Karine Roy (Nigadoo, NB), Clarke made a pad save on the tip and Corriveau pounced on the rebound to tie the game at 1-1.

The Huskies struck quickly in the opening moments of the second as well, making it 2-1 only 1:20 into the second. With the Huskies on the power play Clark caught the Aigles Blues on a bad line change and hit Mary Worndl (Lunenburg, NS) with a pass at the Aigles Bleus blue line sending Worndl and Birch in on a two-on-none, Worndl patiently sold shot then hit Birch with a cross crease pass on the back left post that Birch chipped up into the net for the pretty goal.

At the 13:24 mark of the second the Aigles Bleus responded again. Dubuc took a pass from Graham and cut across the outside of the Huskies blue line before firing a shot that deflected off a skate and up over Clark's glove to tie the game at 2-2.

The Aigles Bleus had a string of high quality scoring chances in the last few minutes of the second while on a five-on-three power play but Clark made several spectacular saves and Kate Barber (Aurora, ON) made a diving poke check to knock the puck away from going into an open side of the net.

The Huskies scored again on the power play early in the third to make it 3-2. After a clean win off a face off in the Aigles Bleus zone back to Hannah Askin (Waterloo, ON) she played catch on the blue line with Nicole Schofield (Winnipeg, MB), as soon as Askin got the puck back she turned and fired a shot on goal that was tipped in the slot by Murphy for Murphy's first career AUS goal.

The Huskies made it 4-2 just over a minute later at the 3:47 mark of the third. Manning won a face off in the Aigles Bleus zone clean back to Sarah Douglas (Whitby, ON) and she went D-to-D to Wilkinson who fired a low shot along the ice that found its way through the traffic in front to the back of the net.

Another power play goal by the Huskies made it 5-2 5:54 into the third. Wilkinson worked the puck to Lanceleve set up on the right half wall and she put a hard pass on the tape of Manning in the slot that Manning redirected in off the set play.

The Aigles Bleus made it 5-3 with their second power play goal of the game at the 8:18 mark of the third. Graham dug the puck free in the left corner and worked it back to Julie Thériault (Cambellton, NB) on the point she sent it across the blue line to Cassandra Labrie (Cole Harbour, NS) and Labrie spotted Graham in the slot who ripped a shot high blocker for the goal.

Birch's second of the game sealed the win for the Huskies at the 17:44 mark of the third. Birch fed the puck back to Beatrice Harrietha (Guelph, ON) on the left point and she fired a shot on goal, Forget made the save and Birch crashed the net to pot home the rebound for the 6-3 final.

The Huskies were three for six on the power play, while the Aigles Bleus went two for seven.

Shots were 27-25 for the Aigles Blues but the Huskies outshot them 14-3 in the third.

Up Next:

The Aigles Bleus travel to face the StFX X-Women in Antigonish, NS on Friday, January 13, while the Huskies will face their cross town rival Dalhousie Tigers at the Civic Centre in Halifax, NS on Saturday, January 14.

By Cam Honey-Webb

Photo Nick Pearce