Saint Mary's shutout Moncton in home opener

(Halifax, NS) In AUS women's hockey action, the Saint Mary's Huskies hosted the Université de Moncton Aigles-Bleues in their season home opener at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax. The Huskies put on an impressive performance for their home crowd, coming away with a 5-0 win.

Saint Mary's dominated the first period, getting two quick goals. First was Kaitlin Howarth (Thunder Bay who stuffed in a rebound after a shot from the point. Mary McDonald (Calgary, AB) Caleigh Meraw (Red Deer, AB) assisted on the goal.

Putting the home team ahead 2-0 was Miranda Hatt (Eastern Passage, NS) slipped the puck behind Moncton goalie Audrey Berthiaume (Saint-Bruno, QC) after a shot from Shae Demale (Red Deer, AB).

Although the Aigles-Bleues had several power play opportunities, they didn't muster a shot on net until the final minutes of the period. The first frame ended with the Huskies up by two, leading on the shot clock 11-1.

Fifty-six seconds into the second period, Laura Horwood (Grandfalls-Windsor, NL) fired a wrist shot top shelf on Berthiaume's blocker side to make it 3-0. Eve LeBlanc (Petit-Rocher, NB) and Katie Peddle (Labrador City, NL) added assists on the play.

Though the Huskies took several penalties, their aggressive shorthanded play generated several opportunities, including a breakaway by Siobhan Birch (Mississauga, ON) who had a great scoring opportunity.

In the second half of the period, the Aigles-Bleues were able to put a bit more pressure on the Huskies by getting sticks in passing lanes and getting several shots on net, but goalie Rebecca Clark (Keswick, ON) was solid for the Huskies and the second period ended with a score of 3-0.

Once more, the start to the final period was all Saint Mary's, as Birch sent home a one-timer just 17 seconds in. Brooke Murphy (Balla Philip, NS) and Taylor Keeping (Hackett's Cove, NS) got the assists.

That was quickly followed by another Huskies goal from rookie Ellen Laurence (Kentville, NS), who was left unguarded in the slot and made a nice deke to put the Huskies up 5-0.

After that, the Aigles-Bleues made a goalie change, sending Mélodie Arsenault (Acadieville, NB) into the game.

Saint Mary's continued to press and had several more scoring opportunities, finishing the game with 34 shots and a dominant 5-0 win.

The Subway Player of the Game was Kaitlin Howarth.

Up next, the Huskies travel to Mount Allison on October 11^th while Moncton travels to play UNB on October 9^th.