Worndl scores two as Huskies shutout Panthers 4-0

By Thomas Becker 

Mary Worndl's effective play on special teams led the surging Saint Mary's Huskies to a 4-0 win over the UPEI Panthers Saturday afternoon. 

The fourth-year forward scored a pair of power play goals – one in the first and again in the second – to help extend the Huskies (14-3-1) win streak to five games, while the Panthers (4-9-6) dropped their fourth straight. Because of her effort, Worndl was named Subway Player of the Game. 

It was a slow start to the game for Saint Mary's, but after hitting their stride midway through the first period, they dominated in the offensive zone, leading to 11 shots on goal. 

The Panthers seventh-ranked penalty kill (74. 2 per cent) let them down once again at 13:32, when Huskie Brooke Murphy found Worndl in the right circle, who deposited it in the corner for the 1-0 edge. 

That lead was doubled just five minutes later, when defenceman Nicole Schofield banged the puck home for her second goal of the season. 

UPEI's penalty kill didn't fare too much better late in the second period, as Worndl shielded a helpless Camille Scherger – who got the starting nod in net for the Panthers – and tipped it in for her second marker of the game and a 3-0 advantage.

The Huskies got to Scherger for a fourth time at the 10:04 mark of the third period, when Hannah Askin delivered the game's final blow on a great individual effort. 

The league's top defence was stingy throughout the afternoon, allowing little in the way of opportunities for UPEI. But when pucks did get through, goaltender Rebecca Clark was ready, turning aside all 13 shots she faced to record her third shutout of the campaign. 

The Panthers hit the road next where they'll take on the St. FX X-Women. Puck drops on Jan. 21 at 3 p.m.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan