Huskies extend winning streak by defeating Mounties 3-1

HALIFAX, NS - The Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the Mount Alison Mounties 3-1 on Saturday at the Homburg Centre, extending their win streak to three games.

In the early minutes of the opening period, Huskies forward Kate Gallant (Brooklin, ON) had a two-on-one opportunity that saw her shot trickle through the pads of Mounties goalie Hanna Pagdato (Winnipeg, MB), but the Mounties defence was there to sweep the puck off the goal line.

Moments later, Huskies forward Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) took a shot from the faceoff circle in the Mounties zone, teammate Jillian Duggan (Halifax, NS) was there to pick up the rebound, putting it in the Mounties goal for her first goal of the season and taking the lead 1-0.

As they battled back and forth, Mounties defender Alisha Donovan (Brockville, ON) picked off a pass in the neutral zone for a short breakaway, but Huskies goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) was there to make the save.

On the following play, Huskies defender Abigail Mackenzie (Stellarton, NS) passed up the ice to forward Charlotte Buffie (Winnipeg, MB) for a breakaway, but Mounties netminder Pagdato came up with a big pad save to keep the Huskies lead to 1-0.

With eight minutes played in the first period, the Huskies headed on to the power play. The Huskies poured on the pressure, but the Mounties defence stayed firm, making key blocks to kill off their penalty.

As the clock hit five minutes left in the first period, Huskies forward Keyara Nelson (Belleville, ON) picked the puck off the boards and sent her shot to the top corner, extending the Huskies lead 2-0.

With just over a minute to go, Mounties forward Oceane Asham (Portage La Prairie, MB) took the puck in low, cutting across the Huskies goal, and attempted to slide it under Huskies goalie Hansen's pad, but Hansen stood firm.

The teams were tied in shots 10-10, with the Huskies leading 2-0 heading into the first intermission.

In the first few minutes of the second period, the Huskies offence controlled the play in the Mounties zone. Huskies forward Kara MacLean (Antigonish, NS) and Mackenzie took point shots, but Mounties goalie Pagdato was there to make the saves.

At 5:05 in the second period, Huskies forwards Gallant and Miranda Hatt (Regina, SK) headed on a two-on-one, Gallant fired a shot that went through Mounties Pagdato's five-hole for extending the Huskies lead to 3-0.

Mounties forward Tallon Stephenson (Lloydminster, AB) entered the Huskies zone, firing a shot that hit Huskies goaltender Hansen's shoulder, it popped up and over, heading for the back of the net, Hansen sprawled, covering it in time to keep the Huskies lead 3-0.

Moments later, the puck came to Mounties forward Hailey Simoneau (North Vancouver, BC), who looked to tap it in, but sent the puck across the goal line keeping the score 3-0.

Halfway through the second period, the Mounties headed onto the powerplay. The Mounties offence had a few opportunities, but the Huskies defence stood firm, successfully killing off their penalty.

With just over six minutes left in the second period, the Huskies had several chances to extend their lead, but Mounties netminder Pagdato stood firm, keeping the puck out.

Mounties forward Jenna Wiebe (Calgary, AB) sent a shot through traffic in the final few moments of the period, but Hansen made the glove save.

As the teams headed into the second intermission, the Mounties outshot the Huskies 18-17, with the Huskies leading 3-0.

In the opening minutes of the third period, the teams traded equal opportunities. At the four minute mark in the third, the Huskies went onto the penalty kill.

The Huskies successfully killed off their penalty and immediately jumped on the offence Huskies forward Abby McCarthy (Falmouth, NS) fired a shot from the slot, but it went just wide.

As the period reached the halfway mark, Huskies MacLean hit the hash marks and sent a pass to teammate Erin Denny (Eskasoni, NS), who was in the slot, but Mounties Pagdato faced it squarely on to make the save.

The Huskies headed onto their third powerplay of the game. Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) fired a shot from down low, but Mounties Pagdato flashed the glove to make the save.

With 30 seconds left in their penalty kill, Mounties Asham blocked a shot, resulting in a short-handed breakaway, she fired a shot that went under Huskies goaltender Hansen's blocker, making the score 3-1.

In the final minutes of the third period, the Mounties head onto a powerplay. The Mounties poured on the pressure, but the Huskies defence successfully killed off their penalty. The Huskies outshot the Mounties 28-25 and would take the win 3-1.

Huskies forward Keyara Nelson was named Player of the Game with the winning goal on the afternoon.

Huskies goaltender Ridleigh Hansen made 24 saves for the win, while Mounties Hanna Pagdato turned away 25 shots in the loss.

The Huskies win improves their record to 7-5-0-1 on the season. The Huskies will be back in action Friday night as they host the STFX X-Women (10-3) at the Dauphinee Centre, with puck-drop scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Mounites loss drops their record to 1-14 on the season. The Mounties will be back in action Wednesday as they host the St. Thomas Tommies (8-5) at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre, with puck-drop scheduled for 7 p.m.

Recap by Alyson Duffy / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics