The St. Thomas University women’s hockey team lost in the first quarterfinal match-up of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championships against the number one ranked Guelph Gryphons 3-0 in Calgary, March. 17.
The win brought Guelph into the semi-finals against the winner of the University of British Columbia and McGill University quarterfinal matchup.
The first period ended scoreless, but the Gryphon’s Center Marcie Landman opened the second period with a high backhand-shot beating Taylor Cook bringing the score 1-0 Gryphons.
At 17:21 of the second period, Gryphon’s Averi Nooren landed a wrist shot the sneaked its way past Cook’s low glove side bringing it 2-0.
Noreen scored again in the final frame of the game landing the puck on the blocker side with a shot from the high slot while Cook was screened ending the game 3-0 Gryphons.
“It’s tough to come in and play the number one team in the first game, it’s going to be a difficult game for sure,” said Tommies Head Coach, Peter Murphy. “I thought we had a good first period, we played with them. In the second period it was all about who scored first, if we’d scored first maybe it’s a bit of a different game.”
Both Taylor Cook and Averi Nooren were named Player of the Game.
The following day the Tommies earned their first-ever win at a national championship after defeating the McGill Martlets 2-1 during the consolation semi-final match.
Coach Murphy felt the game was a special win for the team.
“It’s huge. I told the girls that it’s something that can never be taken away from them and it’s something that the players who aren’t back next year are leaving to the program,” he said.
“I think we played more of our game than what you saw yesterday,” Murphy said. “I thought the ice was better today. It was a little bit colder and it allowed for a faster pace.”
The puck went back and forth between both teams early in the first period until the Martlets opened the scoring when Gabrielle Davidson tipped the puck past Cook at 15:40.
Two minutes later Kelty Apperson scored on a rebound during a power play tying the game 1-1.
The first half ended with eight shots on goal for the Tommies and 12 for the Martlets.
The Tommies came out strong and dominated possession of the puck for the first three minutes of the second half. The Martlets picked up their aggression and both teams put pressure on the goalies but were not able to score
“When McGill brings it, it’s pretty tough,” Murphy said. “But at the same time, our girls bleed green and gold. They will drop in front of pucks, take pucks in the head, and yet they still finish out their shift. It’s just kind of the way we are, so when we get into a situation like that we know what they’re going to bring.”
The game was evenly played in the third period until the Tommies scored. Lauren Henman took the puck in the crease and tucked it past the Martlets making it 2-1, and ending the game with a win for the Tommies.
“That was a huge goal,” said Murphy. “Henman gets a determined look in her eye sometimes, and that shift you could see there was a couple chances and then all of a sudden Henman got in close. She scores that kind of goal quite often.”
