Panthers defeat Huskies 3-1, extend win streak to four games

HALIFAX, NS—The UPEI Panthers scored three straight goals, coming back to defeat the Saint Mary's Huskies 3-1 on Friday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax, N.S. 

The Panthers offense got off to a hot start, outshooting the Huskies 4-1 over the first five minutes of action, but Huskies goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) was solid in goal. 

Just after the five minute mark of the first period, the Huskies opened the scoring when a clearance by Allie Barter (Hammonds Plains, NS) took a fortuitous bounce off the end boards right onto the stick of first year forward Abby McCarthy (Falmouth, NS), who scored her first career AUS goal to put the Huskies up 1-0. It was also the first point of the season for Barter, while Jillian Duggan (Halifax, NS) also picked up an assist. 

Play opened up after the goal, with both teams firing shots on goal, as the Panthers outshot the Huskies 10-9 in the period, but Hansen and Panthers goaltender Sarah Forsythe (Riverview, NB) were solid in goal.  

The last shot of the first period would prove to be the equalizing goal for the Panthers, as a point shot by Ally Clements (Murray River, PEI) bounced through some traffic in front of the goal and beat Hansen, tying the game at 1-1 with just 12 seconds remaining in the period. The marker was Clements first career AUS goal, and forward Lexie Murphy (Kensington, PEI) picked up an assist. 

The second period saw the Huskies outshoot the Panthers 12-5, but Forsythe continued her strong play in goal, making several excellent saves to keep the Huskies off the scoreboard, and the game remained tied 1-1 heading into the third period. 

Just over eight minutes into the third period, the Panthers found the go-ahead goal on the powerplay. After Hansen made several sprawling saves, forward McKinley Nelson (Calgary, AB) capitalized on the scramble and poked it over the goal line for her ninth goal of the season, putting the visitors ahead 2-1. 

The Huskies pushed for an equalizer, but Forsythe was solid in the Panthers goal. UPEI forward Taylor Gillis (Summerside, PEI) was able to ice the game with an empty net goal with just 58 seconds remaining, her team-high 10th of the campaign, and the Panthers secured the 3-1 victory. 

Sarah Forsythe was named Subway Player of the Game, stopping 28 of 29 shots faced for the victory. Ridleigh Hansen made 19 saves for the Huskies. 

The Panthers fourth straight win improves their record to 11-6-1 on the campaign, tying them with the Huskies for third place in the AUS standings with 23 points. They'll be back in action on Saturday night, taking on the Dalhousie Tigers (8-7-5), with puck-drop scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Halifax Forum. 

The Huskies loss drops their record to 11-7-1 on the season. They'll be back on home ice Saturday night, hosting the St. Thomas Tommies (6-12-1), with puck-drop scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre.