Huskies top Mounties 5-2 to move into first place

(Halifax, NS) The Saint Mary's University Huskies picked up a 5-2 win over the Mount Allison University Mounties on Friday at Alumni Arena in Halifax, NS.

The Huskies moved to 15-2-3 and their 33-points puts them at the top of the AUS standings with four games left to play in the regular season.

The Mounties fell to 3-16-1 and are now six-points back of the final playoff spot in the AUS.

Rebecca Weagle (Lunenburg, NS) made 13 saves for the Huskies. She remains undefeated on the season with a 4-0 record.

Breanna Lanceleve (Middle Sackville, NS) (8) netted a goal and two assists for the Huskies. She moved into a tie for third place in the AUS scoring race with 26-points.

Caitlin Manning (Cambridge, ON) (12, 13) scored twice for the Huskies and moved into second on the AUS goals table. Her 25-points puts her fifth in AUS.

Brooke Murphy (Balla Philip, NB) (2) and Mary Worndl (Kitchener, ON) (7) also netted goals for the Huskies.

Kara Anthony (Toronto, ON) (5) and Jennifer Bell (Miramichi, NB) (5) responded with goals for the Mounties.

Keri Martin (Brampton, ON) made 22 saves for the Mounties and had her record fall to 3-13.

Murphy opened the scoring 3:35 into the second with a shorthanded tally. Siobhan Birch (Mississauga, ON) stole the puck at the Huskies blue line and raced up ice into the Mounties zone one-on-one.  She dropped for Murphy in the slot and Murphy sniped high glove side just under the bar.

Manning made it 2-0 Huskies just a minute and a half later 5:05 into the second. Beatrice Harrietha (Guelph, ON) grabbed a loose puck in the Huskies zone and sent it up the left wing to Lanceleve at the Mounties blue line.  Lanceleve carried into the zone and dropped for Manning on the wall.  Manning worked out to the slot and ripped her shot top shelf glove side to almost the exact spot of Murphy's. 

After some sustained Huskies pressure in the Mounties zone the Mounties took a time out and the move paid off as Anthony scored on the next shift 10:04 into the second. Emma Rae Murphy (Petitcodiac, NB) got the puck in the Mounties zone and chipped it off the glass to Heather Richards (St. Anthony, NL).  Streaking through the neutral zone up the left wing, Richards carried into the Huskies zone and faked a shot to send a slap pass across to Anthony who was in on a two-on-one.  Anthony fired a shot that Weagle stopped initially before the puck took a bounce into the net.

Lanceleve made it 3-1 just 2:12 into the third. Kiana Wilkinson (Prince George, BC) held the line on the right point and got the puck to Laura Polak (Bedford, NS) on the half wall.  Polak turned and sent a pass through the slot to Lanceleve who was able to reach out with one hand on her stick and redirect it inside the post for the goal.

Bell Responded for the Mounties 50 seconds later. Richards controlled the puck in the Huskies zone and sent it from the right corner to Oryssya Ellis (Charlottetown, PE) on the point.  Ellis sent a shot towards Bell looking for a tip, Bell knocked it out of the air to herself and then turned and fired a shot low blocker side to make it a 3-2 game.

Worndl restored the two goal Huskies lead at the 8:36 mark of the third. Wilkinson fired a point shot that Murphy tipped wide.  Birch picked the puck up behind the net and worked to her left into the low attacking right circle.  she turned and took a shot that deflected into the slot onto the stick of Worndl who ripped a wrist shot high blocker side.

Manning sealed the win for the Huskies 92 seconds later. Nicole Blanche (Dunville, NF) stopped the puck up in behind the Mounties goal and left it for Lanceleve to take into the attacking right circle.  Lanceleve found Manning with a cross crease pass and Manning finished to make it 5-2.

Both teams were zero for six on the power play.

Shots were 27-15 for the Huskies.

Up Next:

The Mounties go home to host the St. Thomas Tommies in Sackville, NB on Saturday, January 28, while the Huskies travel to Moncton NB to face the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus on Sunda,y January 29.

By Cam Honey-Webb

Photo Nick Pearce