Huskies score twice in second period, hold off Panthers in 2-1 win

By Thomas Becker

Goals continue to be hard to come by for the UPEI Panthers.

The Panthers (5-13-2) have been playing well since the turn of the New Year, but the goals just haven't been there. That was the case again Sunday afternoon when they fell to the Saint Mary's Huskies 2-1.

The home team was shut out for the first 59:36 of the game before Ruby Loughton put away a goal following a flurry in front of the net. 

"For the third game in a row, I felt we outplayed our opponent in many facets. I'm seeing better goal-scoring habits from people, and that's a positive sign," said Panthers head coach Sean Fisher. "Against two very good opponents, we kept them to the perimeter defensively, while we were able to penetrate and get to the scoring area when we had the puck. We just didn't finish today."

The Huskies (12-5-3) were led by Kara MacLean and Marisa McClocklin, who each scored in the first six minutes of the second period, setting them on a path to victory.

But it was UPEI who came into the game as the aggressors on both ends, leading to quality chances. Five minutes into the opening frame, Rachel Richards sent a long pass through the neutral zone to McKinley Nelson, who got behind the defence but was denied by goaltender Ridleigh Hansen.

On UPEI's second power play of the afternoon, sophomore defender Orianna MacNeil wired a wrist shot off the crossbar at 14:12, which kept the game scoreless through the first period.

The Huskies opened the second period on a power play and executed it to perfection. At 1:10, Abigail Mackenzie sent a pass across to MacLean, who found the top right corner with a wrist shot.

Saint Mary's would double that lead about four and half minutes later. After Keyara Nelson fired a shot off the post from close range, the puck slid to the left circle, where McClocklin released a quick shot while goaltender Sarah Forsythe was down.

Down two heading into the third period, the Panthers put together another strong 20 minutes and once again outshot their opponent. They were rewarded late in the period on Loughton's goal that had just gotten by Hansen's outstretched arm as she tried to pull the puck back from the goal line. The Huskies held off the Panthers the rest of the way to earn their third consecutive win.

Hansen finished the game with 25 saves, while Forsythe turned aside 13 shots.

UPEI plays host to the St. X-Women Friday night, while the Huskies travel to Sackville, NB, to take on the Mount Allison Mounties.

Photo Credit: Janessa Vanden Broek