Hatt scores 100th career point in 5-2 loss to Aigles Bleues

HALIFAX, NS – Moncton forward Erica Plourde scored a hat-trick, leading the Aigles Bleues to a 5-2 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action on Saturday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.

In the early going, Moncton was out chancing the Huskies but goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) made several big stops.

The Huskies would score first with a historic goal for the program, as fifth year forward Miranda Hatt (Regina, SK) tipped home a shot from linemate Ashley Penney (Lawrencetown, NS) for a powerplay goal. That was Hatt's 100^th AUS regular season point for the Huskies, becoming the sixth player to hit that milestone in a Saint Mary's uniform.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Miranda Hatt's 100th career AUS point is a powerplay goal putting the Huskies up 1-0 in the first period! Congratulations to a @smuhuskieswh great!

�� M. Hatt (10)
�� A. Penney pic.twitter.com/az4zM2tbdD

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 27, 2024

With just over 30 seconds remaining in the period, Aigles Bleues forward Shani Rossignol (Notre Dame de Lourdes, NB) was sprung on a breakaway and able to beat Hansen to tie the game at 1-1.

The Aigles Bleues outshot the Huskies 11-7 in the first period, and the teams went into intermission deadlocked at 1-1.

It didn't take long into the second period for the Aigles Bleues to break that tie in convincing fashion. Forward Erica Plourde (Pigeon-Hill, NB) wired a shot from the ringette line off the post and in to put the visitors ahead 2-1, just 1:33 into the second period.

Less than 30 seconds later, the Aigles Bleues doubled their lead, as Laura Tremblay (Quebec, QC) pounced on a rebound and pushed the puck past Hansen for the 3-1 lead.

Midway through the second period, Moncton would add another, as Plourde intercepted a pass in the Huskies zone and came in on a two-on-one, keeping it for herself and firing a shot over Hansen's pad for her second goal of the night, making it 4-1.

The Huskies would get one back with just over five minutes remaining in the second period, as first year forward Charlotte Buffie (Winnipeg, MB) stole the puck behind the Aigles Bleus net and delivered a perfect pass onto the stick of Aimee O'Neill (Glace Bay, NS), who made no mistake, beating Aigles Bleues goaltender Annick Boudreau (Memramcook, NB) to cut the lead to 4-2.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Aimee O'Neill scores off the feed from Charlotte Buffie to cut the Aigles Bleues lead to 4-2 in the second period.

�� A. O'Neill (5)
�� C. Buffie
�� A. McCarthy pic.twitter.com/5P4H2N23yB

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 28, 2024

The Aigles Bleues took a commanding 25-13 shots on goal advantage, as well as the 4-2 lead into the second intermission.

Less than a minute into the third period, Plourde completed her hat-trick as she picked up a loose puck in the Huskies zone and quickly sniped a high shot past Hansen for her third goal of the night and league-leading 16^th of the season.

The Huskies pushed for a comeback effort, outshooting the Aigles Bleues 12-8 over the remainder of the period, but Boudreau was sharp in the Moncton goal, and the visitors held on for the 5-2 victory.

The Aigles Bleues outshot the Huskies 34-25 on the night, with Annick Boudreau turning away 23 shots for the win while Ridleigh Hansen stopped 29 shots in defeat.

The Aigles Bleues win improved their record to 13-10-0-2 on the season. They'll be back in action on Friday, Feb. 2, as they host the UPEI Panthers (6-14-0-3) at 7 p.m.

The Huskies second straight loss dropped their record to 14-6-1-3 on the season. They'll be on the road to New Brunswick next weekend, as they visit the UNB REDS (18-5-0-0) on Friday, Feb. 2, and the St. Thomas Tommies (12-8-2-2) on Saturday, Feb. 3, with both games scheduled to drop the puck at 7 p.m.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics