Tommies down Panthers 2-1 in Fredericton

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) - The St. Thomas Tommies women's hockey team bounced back on Sunday afternoon, defeating the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers 2-1 at the Grant-Harvey Centre.

The team now sits in a tie for first in the AUS conference with Moncton and St. Francis Xavier.

Coach Peter Murphy was happy to get back into the win column.

"It was good to get a good positive feel back to the team," he said after the game.

Paige MacDonald opened the scoring for St. Thomas early in the first, beating UPEI goalie Marie-Soleil Deschenes.

Both teams shut down all other opportunities in the first, leaving the Tommies up 1-0 after 20 minutes.

The teams exchanged chances in the second, but neither team could light the lamp. Both goalies stood tall, keeping the game in favour of St. Thomas.

UPEI came out desperate in the third and were rewarded when Laura Bradley's point shot found its way behind St. Thomas netminder Abby Clarke.

"Its a lot easier period for them to play than us," said coach Murphy of the Panthers' push in the third. "We were up 1-0 and as much as you tell them 'keep going at it because that's what got you here,' its tough sometimes to understand you have to keep going after them."

The teams exchanged power plays late in the third, with St. Thomas's Jenna Scott called for body checking and UPEI's Lindsay Johnson called for hooking.

After killing off the body checking penalty, Myfanwy Thomson scored on St. Thomas's power play to end the scoring at 2-1.

St. Thomas held on to earn their third win of the season.

Coach Murphy had mixed feelings about the weekend, which saw the Tommies win one and lose one.

"Even if we had won both, I don't think I would have been happy," Murphy said. "There's always stuff to work on."

The Tommies are back in action Friday when they travel to Halifax to face the St. Mary's Huskies. The Panthers are on the road Saturday against the Dalhousie Tigers. 

Source: Cassidy Dankochik for St. Thomas Sports Information