Tommies oust Panthers in season finale

Charlottetown, PE - The fourth place UPEI Panthers (14-9-1) hosted second place St. Thomas Tommies (16-4-3) Saturday night in AUS Women's Hockey action.  

 The Tommies got on the board first as Alisha Gilbert found the back of the net under five minutes into the game. The Panthers answered just over a minute later on a goal by rookie Jenna Pellerin. The game looked to be going into the intermission tied before Tommies Alex Woods score on the powerplay to take a 2-1 lead after the first.   

The Panthers tied the game early in the second on a solo effort by Faith Steeves. A checking from behind penalty sent the Tommies to the powerplay where Kelly Apperson and Emily Oleksuk scored just a minute apart to give the Tommies a 4-2 lead. The Panthers Rachel Colle cut the lead in half when she scored late in the period to make the game 4-3 Tommies.  

Neither team could find the back of the net in the third and the Tommies left with a 4-3 win over the Panthers.  

The Panthers had assists from Kiana Strand, Kristen MacIntyre, and Sydnee Baker. The Tommies also had assists by all four goal scorers, Teah Anderson, Paige Jackson, and Lauren Henman.  

Abby Clarke picked up the win for the Tommies while Marie-Soleil Deschenes suffered the loss in nets for the Panthers.  

It was also Senior Night for the Panthers and they honoured six graduating players before the game. They honoured goalie Marie-Soleil Deschenes, Bria Harding, Teagan Pringle, Cornelia Geib, Emma Martin, and team Captain Kiana Strand.  

The Tommies have clinched a first round bye for the AUS playoffs while the Panthers will face off against fifth place U de M in the first round of the playoffs.  

The Tommies outshot the Panthers 35 - 24. 

Penalties: UPEI 21 min on 5 infractions  

     STU 10 min on 5 infractions