By Ryan Hyndman
The Dalhousie Tigers women's hockey team opened their season at home against the Mount Allison Mounties on Friday night with a 3-1 victory.
The game started with both teams playing very solid defensively and not allowing many shots on goal. Around the five-minute mark, coach Troy Ryan of the Tigers called an early timeout to try and spark some energy in his group. The early results seemed beneficial as the Tigers began to control the play in the offensive zone leading to scoring chances from Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB) and Brooklyn Paisley (Shawinigan Lake, BC). Dalhousie would continue to hold the Mounties in their own end, but Mount Allison goaltender Bianca Zak (Stonewall, MB) stood tall to keep it a 0-0 game mid-way through the first.
The Tigers pressure would pay off, earning their first powerplay of the game as the period was winding down. It was the Mounties however, that seemed to gain a bit of momentum off a strong penalty kill including a big shot block from Lauren Steele (Stratford, PEI). Dalhousie was able to go on the attack one last time, setting up Paisley for two tip plays in front of the Mounties net, the second of which found its way through the five-hole to make it 1-0 at the end of the first period.
The Mounties began the second period with some pace, earning time in the offensive zone and their first powerplay just two minutes into the second period. With a strong penalty kill of their own, the Tigers Kennedy Whelan (Alliston, ON) would get a point-blank shot as the penalty expired but Zak was able to shut the door. The Tigers would keep the pressure on, getting several more high-danger chances, but once again, Zak had every answer.
As the teams went back and forth, the Tigers would draw their second penalty nine minutes in and would head back to the powerplay. This time the Tigers would capitalize off a beautiful cross ice pass from Eustace, as Paisley fired home her second of the evening extending the lead to 2-0.
The Mounties, looking to get on the board, found Tallon Stephenson (Lloydminster, AB) in all alone, but Grace Beer (Oakville, ON) was able to make a nice glove save. The Mounties would then go to the powerplay with seven minutes remaining in the period, but another kill for Dalhousie would keep the lead at two. In the final moments of the second, Tigers blueliner Regan Duffy (Burlington, ON) was able to take advantage of an opportunity in the high slot, finding the back of the net to make it 3-0 headed into the third period.
Just four minutes into the final frame, Mount Allison would finally get on the board as the Mounties got behind the Tigers defence with Mollie Grabe (Carleton Place, ON) finding Hailey Simoneau (Milton, ON) to make it a 3-1 game. The Mounties would continue to push as Grabe and Ashlee Hodge-Hirschfield (Lac du Bonet, MB) both got had scoring chances on net, but Beer kept it out with arguably her best sequence of the night, featuring a beautiful glove save. Mount Allison would keep coming, going back to the powerplay one last time, but Beer closed out the game with yet another strong series of saves.
Brooklyn Paisley took home the Subway Player of the Game award for the Tigers.
The Mounties will look to get in the win column for the first time this season when they faceoff against STFX on Saturday, October 8th at 7:00pm.
The Tigers will look to stay undefeated when they play St Mary's on Saturday, Oct 8 at 7:00pm