CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The St. Thomas Tommies scored three times in 2:39 of the second period to blow open a close game and end the UPEI Panthers women’s hockey season.
The Tommies defeated the Panthers 8-1 to sweep the best-of-three Atlantic University Sport quarter-final. It was 1-0 St. Thomas after the first period at MacLauchlan Arena B.
“We have to learn from this. We are young, and I have to keep reminding myself that,” UPEI head coach Bruce Donaldson said. “Tonight, wasn't about the effort. Sometimes things just don't work the way you expect them to.”
Lauren Henman scored 7:02 into the second period to make it 2-0. As the goal was being announced, Olivia Reid scored at 7:44 and Alisha Gilbert added a power-play goal at 8:41 to make it 4-0.
“We had a couple of lapses, and they took advantage of it,” Donaldson said. “I felt at times we were hemming them in pretty good and they’d get a break. . . The girls worked hard, but you can’t let a team like that get a couple of goals ahead of you.”
The Tommies would score two more to take a 6-0 lead to the third period.
Emily Oleksuk scored three, Henman had two and Stephanie Ford one to round out the Tommies gaol-scorers.
UPEI’s Maria Clinton scored an unassisted goal seven minutes into the third.
Abby Clarke made 18 saves for the win while Megan Sullivan stopped 12 shots in the loss.
Captain Emma Martin played her final game for the Panthers after wearing the green and white for five seasons. Sullivan, Lindsay Johnston and Madison Clarke are fourth-year players who will graduate this spring. Clarke didn’t play Friday as she sustained a concussion in the final regular season game against Dalhousie.
“They've all been great character players and were going to miss them,” Donaldson said before going into the dressing room to talk to his players.
