Tommies win first semifinal hockey game

The Tommies scored their two goals back-to-back in the second period. (Shannon Cornelius/AQ)

The St. Thomas University women’s hockey team won a tense 2-1 game over the University of New Brunswick Reds on Feb. 23.

Both teams came out fighting in the first period. The Tommies tried hard to score but the Reds’ defence was strong.

With less than 30 seconds left in the period, UNB scored on a power play giving them a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.

The St. Thomas University women’s hockey team won their first game of the semifinals against the University of New Brunswick 2-1. (Shannon Cornelius/AQ)

The second period started off slow until Tommie Stephanie Ford snuck one past the UNB goalie four minutes in, tying the game 1-1. Alisha Gilbert got another goal 30 seconds later, giving the Tommies a 2-1 lead.

The rest of the period was tense as both teams tried to score, but the goalies kept the puck out of the nets, and kept the score 2-1 for the Tommies at the end of the second period.

The tension continued into the third period as STU fought hard to keep their lead.

The game was tense as both teams fought back and fourth. (Shannon Cornelius/AQ)

UNB pulled their goalie in the last 30 seconds in an attempt to tie up the game, but goalie Abby Clarke stayed strong, giving the Tommies the 2-1 win.

Head coach Peter Murphy told the team after the first period to keep playing the way they did and it worked.

“We kept pressing and pressing,” Murphy said.

“Basically, we remind them to keep plugging away [and] keep doing the things [they’re] doing and it paid off.”