St. Thomas University women’s hockey team lost to the University de Moncton Aigles Bleuse 4-2 at the Grant Harvey Centre Sunday.
Over 200 people attended the regular season game that showed a determination to win by both teams.
Seconds before faceoff, the Bleues smashed their sticks off the boards of the bench creating loud team enthusiasm and possible intimidation.
After faceoff Lauren Henman gained control of the puck and passed to Myfanwy Thomson who lost the puck to the Bleues.
With only 2:21 into the period STU’s Jessica McCann received a two minute penalty for body checking.
During Moncton’s power play, Jodie Dupere was able to snap off a couple slap shots but missed the target and was retrieved by STU.
Tommies Teah Anderson got a solid pass to Emily Oleksuk who landed a solid slap shot but was saved by Bleues goalie Emilie Bouchard.
Thomson then received a two minute penalty giving Moncton a power play where Kathrine Dubac scored immediately with an assist by Veronic Thibeault and Dupere making it 1-0 Bleuse.
STU’s Samantha Squires passed to Becky Conner who passed to Danielle Ring but was saved off Bouchard’s stick.
Emily Francis and Alisha Gilbert rushed Bleuse’s goalie but was saved by Bouchard’s pads.
Shots on goal reached 22-22 in the last two minutes as an icing was called against the Tommies, but after a face-off the Tommies were able to keep the puck in Moncton’s goal zone.
The second period started with STU’s Oleksuk facing off with Moncton’s Amelie Dion ending in Bleuse possession bringing the puck into Tommies net zone but were unable to capitalize on a goal.
Bleuse Kathrine Roy gained possession of the puck, shot, but was saved by Tommies goalie Taylor Cook.
Cassandra Labrie received a two minute penalty giving STU a power play in which they scored a goal by Anderson, with an assist by Michelle Savoie.
At 9:02 left in the period Bleuse Labrie scored another goal after immedietly leaving the penalty box with 9:02 left in her penalty bringing the score 3-1.
STU’s Kelty Apperson rushed in UdeM territory but shot wide bringing shots on goal 20-17 for UdeM.
Thomson got a breakaway, but while attempting to score a goal was taken out by three Bluese.
Tommies Eliza Snider received a two minute penalty for crosschecking in the last minute of play.
Shortly after, Bluese Veronic Thibeault hit Anderson hard and received two minutes for interference.
The period ended 21-20 shots on goal for the Tommies.
Third period started with STU’s power play that helped Snider score a goal with an assist from Kelty Apperson and Oleksuk bringing the score 3-2.
With 16:06 left in the third period Moncton’s Kathrine Dubuc scored in Tommies upper right corner of the net making the final score 4-2.
Although the game’s shots on goal were evenly matched, University de Moncton’s shots were more accurate than the Tommies despite the Tommies hustle for victory.
