Penney, Hansen lead Huskies to 2-0 shutout win over Tigers in Game One
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dalhousie (13-15-1, 13-14-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Saint Mary's (18-7-4, 17-7-4) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary's forward Ashley Penney scored a goal and an assist, and goaltender Ridleigh Hansen turned away 27 shots for the shutout, as the Huskies defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 2-0 in Game One of the Atlantic University Sport women's hockey quarterfinal on Wednesday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.
"It feels really good, feels like we had a good start on playoffs tonight," said Penney post-game. "We have to dictate the game and go in with the mentality that this is our game and we've got to show them who we are."
In the early going, both teams had quality scoring chances but were unable to capitalize. Tigers forward Gabrielle Noordijk (Oakville, ON) had the first two shots of the game, but was denied by Huskies goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB). Several moments later, Huskies forward Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) cut around two players but was stopped by Tigers goaltender Grace Beer (Oakville, ON).
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 14, 2024
Avery Cant creates a quality scoring chance for the Huskies but is turned away. Still 0-0 in the first period. Watch live: https://t.co/82AHrwzKOv pic.twitter.com/wvvrxMVf99
The remainder of the period was a defensive battle, as both teams fought for possession through the neutral zone, with few quality scoring opportunities. The Tigers outshot the Huskies 7-6 through the first 20 minutes, and the two teams went into intermission with a scoreless tie.
It was more of the same defensive intensity in the second period – the Huskies had a great scoring chance on a two-on-one as Ashley Penney (Lawrencetown, NS) slid a cross ice pass to Gillian Lapierre (Port Coquitlam, BC) but her shot was denied by Beer.
The Tigers responded with a two-on-one chance of their own as forward Kennedy Whalen (Alliston, ON) fired a shot that was denied by Hansen, who then stopped Paige Coulter-Vansickle (Millbrook, ON) on the rebound.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 15, 2024
We've got ourselves an old fashioned playoff goaltender duel at the Dauph! Ridleigh Hansen makes a pair of nice saves as were still scoreless in the second period. pic.twitter.com/bQD0HXiHev
With just under three minutes remaining in the second period, the Huskies finally found their go-ahead goal, as Ashley Penney sprung fifth year forward Miranda Hatt on a breakaway. Hatt's initial shot rung off the post, but she was able to corral the rebound and fire a shot from a tough angle that snuck past an out of position Beer to make it 1-0 Huskies.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 15, 2024
HUSKIES SCORE! Who else but Miranda Hatt to score the first goal of the playoffs! Her initial shot rings off the post but Hatt fires the rebound from a tough angle to make it 1-0 Huskies late in the second!
�� M. Hatt (1)
�� A. Penney
�� M. McClocklin pic.twitter.com/NwXz1suKhd
"Lapierre made a great pass to me and I passed it ahead to Hatter. I thought she might put it back in front and it would pop out for a rebound but she was too quick for their goalie and it went in the net." described Penney post-game.
Hatt's goal seemed to spark some urgency in the Tigers, as they pushed for the equalizer with a strong forecheck in the Huskies defensive zone. Forward Isabella Weist (Torbay, NL) thought she had scored as she jammed a loose puck into the crease, but the officials waved it off as Hansen and the puck were clearly pushed into the goal by a Tiger.
The Huskies outshot the Tigers 16-12 in the second period, taking a 22-19 shots lead, as well as a 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
Midway through the third period, Huskies forward Charlotte Buffie (Winnipeg, MB) broke out on a one-on-one but was taken down from behind by the Tigers defender, earning a penalty.
On the ensuing Huskies powerplay, the Tigers were looking to clear the zone but Ashley Penney intercepted a pass in and in a single motion fired a high shot past Beer for the powerplay goal, doubling the Huskies lead to 2-0 with 8:11 remaining in regulation.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 15, 2024
Ashley Penney with the steal and snipe to make it 2-0 Huskies, with 8:11 remaining in the third period!
�� A. Penney (1) pic.twitter.com/3eHtKCIYrT
"Hockey is a game of mistakes and when you get your chances you've got to capitalize on them, and I think that's all that was, puck came to me and it was a great opportunity for me to bury it and put them up 2-0 late in the third period," said Penney post-game.
Dalhousie continued to push for a response, but Hansen and the Huskies defence shut them down and held on for the 2-0 Game One win.
With a goal and an assist, Ashley Penney was named Player of the Game for the Huskies, while Grace Beer was named Player of the Game for the Tigers, turning way 35 shots.
"Ridleigh's been great for us all year, and was great for us tonight with the shutout," said Penney post-game. "I'd say we started out a bit timidly tonight but we really showed who we were in the second half of the game, playing in strong, getting in battles, and getting our second quick."
The Huskies outshot the Tigers 37-27 on the night, with Ridleigh Hansen turning away 27 shots for the shutout win, while Grace Beer stopped 35 shots in defeat.
With the win, the Huskies take a pivotal 1-0 lead in the best-of-three quarterfinal series. The series will now shift across town to the Halifax Forum where the Tigers will host the Huskies on Friday night at 7 p.m. If necessary, the decisive Game Three will be played on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Dauphinee Centre, with puck-drop scheduled for 7 p.m.
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
