Rietveld Scores Lone Goal as Tigers Edge Aigles Bleues 1-0

By Mark Moffat

In AUS women's hockey action at the Halifax Forum, the Dalhousie Tigers defeated the Moncton Aigles Bleues 1-0 in a game where both teams had plenty of chances, but couldn't get the puck in; except for one instance.

The first period saw an early chance when Moncton's Samantha McLaughlin (Losier Settlement, NB) had a partial breakaway about six minutes in, but was stopped. Moncton got another good, albeit odd, chance when Janelle Graham (Dieppe, NB) had a point shot hit her and just miss the net to keep it scoreless. The Tigers almost got on the board when Lisa MacLean (Inverenss, NS) cut in front and let off a shot from the slot that was stopped with about three minutes left in the first to end the period 0-0.

In the second period, Dalhousie's Jesse Rietveld (Pelham, ON) missed a centring pass she tried to receive right in front about three minutes into the second to keep it scoreless. Dalhousie thought they had scored two and a half minutes later when MacLean batted in a puck that ricocheted into the air, but was waved off as it was knocked in with a high stick. The Tigers finally got the opening goal when Rietveld unloaded on a sliding, loose puck with a wicked snapshot from the circle at 8:37 on the powerplay to make it 1-0, with Subway Player of the Game Keana Oshowy (Woodbridge, ON) picking up one of the assists. Dalhousie almost added another when Danika Phillips (Barrie, ON) got a breakaway with about three minutes left, but was stopped to keep it 1-0 after two periods.

As the third period got underway, Moncton's Katryne Villeneuve (Casselman, ON) ringed a shot from the slot off the post about 90 seconds into the period. Dalhousie got another chance when Annika Rose (North Vancouver, BC) left off a point wrist shot that was stopped about seven and a half minutes later. Moncton had a chance to tie it when Marie-Pier Corriveau (Magog, QC) cut across the ice into the slot with about eight minutes left, but hammered her shot off the post. Moncton kept pressing for the equalizer, including pulling their goalie with 44 seconds left, but Dalhousie hung on to get the victory.

Dalhousie outshot Moncton 32-26. Fabiana Petricca (Woodbridge, ON) made 26 saves to get the shutout for the Tigers, while Gabrielle Forget (Joliette, QC) stopped 31 shots for the Aigles Bleues.

Dalhousie's next game is next Sunday against the Mount Allison Mounties at 3:30 pm in Sackville, while the Aigles Bleues next see action Saturday against the UPEI Panthers at 7 in Moncton