Panthers fall to Tigers in season finale

HALIFAX, NS—The Dalhousie Tigers clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the UPEI Panthers Saturday night in Halifax.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Elise Evans (Toronto, ON) played a perfectly timed through ball to a sprinting Taylor Heard (Ottawa, ON) to send her in on net. Heard played the ball past a rushing Claudia Mazzei to find the back of the net.

Less than three minutes later Juliette Bader leveled the score at 1-1. Tigers keeper Brianne MacDonald (Chelsea, QC) came out of her box to clear the ball and deflected it off Bader and back into MacDonald's goal.

The Tigers ad Panthers headed into the locker room at half time, tied 1-1.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Meghan Johnston (Dartmouth, NS) made a run down the left side and played a high lofting ball to a waiting Sarah Giles (Toronto, ON) at the back post. Giles side footed into the back of the net to put the Tigers ahead.

Giles goal would prove to be not only the game winning goal, but also the playoff clinching goal for the Tigers.

MacDonald had a quiet game in net for the Tigers, facing only one shot. Mazzei made 4 saves in the loss.

After the game, the Tigers celebrated their graduating student-athletes who have played their final regular season game in black and gold.

The Tigers will return to the field on Thursday in their quarter-final match. Game details will be release later in the weekend. The loss marks the end of the Panthers season and the last game for head coach Lewis Page on the Panthers women's soccer bench.

RECAP COURTESY: Dalhousie Sports Information / PHOTOS BY: Brooke DiPaolo