Panthers put clamps on Tommies in 1-0 win

By Thomas Becker

One goal was all the UPEI Panthers needed to come away with a win over the St. Thomas Tommies Saturday night.

Third-year forward Taylor Gillis secured the 1-0 victory 51 seconds into the third period when she put away her own rebound in front of the net. 

Between Friday night's late-game heroics and Saturday's grind-it-out affair, Panther head coach Bruce Donaldson has been pleased with his team's fight in these close games, especially at home.

"It's always a lift when you're playing at home," Donaldson said. "It was Parents' Week and I think the players were feeling it a bit more."

The Tommies (4-4-0) were riding high into Charlottetown after an impressive 4-1 win against the UNB Reds the night before and were looking to end the weekend undefeated, but the Panthers (5-1-2) had other plans. 

Donaldson's team was outstanding defensively, holding the Tommies to just two shots in the first period and 20 overall. The defensive unit made life easy on goaltender Camille Scherger, who easily turned aside anything that came her way, as she recorded her first shutout of the campaign. 

"Having her back in the lineup is such a boost for everyone," Donaldson said. "You could just sense that she was in the zone and it was going to take something extra to get something by her."

St. Thomas has historically been a tough opponent for UPEI to play against and they showed it again Saturday with a strong defensive performance themselves. Netminder Caroline Pietroski was just as effective as her counterpart, but a costly rebound early in the third period allowed Gillis to score the game-winner for the Panthers. 

"They're tough, no question, but I thought we were ready for them tonight, and it showed on the ice," Donaldson said. 

The Panthers look to stay undefeated at home where they will take on the Mount Allison Mounties next Friday.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan