Women’s hockey stalled in the standings

Dal's in a fight to climb up the AUS standings. Photo by Adele van Wyk

A win over Mount Allison would have pushed Dalhousie even closer to fifth place St. Thomas in the climb for playoff positioning. Instead, it looks like the Tigers are destined to remain stuck in the sixth and final AUS playoff berth with five games remaining.

The Tigers would not rise in the standings Feb. 4, unable to complete a third period comeback against the Mounties at Memorial Arena to lose the game 5 – 3. The Tigers have lost all three of their matchups against Mount Allison this season.

Dal’s Zoe Zivolak came off the bench to take over for Brittany McMacken at the beginning of the second period after McMacken allowed three goals on only seven shots.

“It was pretty cold out there,” Zivolak said, “but you just have to forget what happened and try and turn the game around.”

Zivolak did her part to keep her team in it. The Tigers were down 4 – 0 entering the third until Rebecca Smyth put in her fourth of the season only 42 seconds into the period, putting the Tigers within three. After the Mounties struck back, Dal’s Jenna Currie and Robin Nicholson both scored to put their deficit within two goals, but that 5 – 3 scoreline was as close as Dal would get.

“In the third period we just said we were going to go out and move the puck more, which we did,” Dal captain Elizabeth Matheson said. “It just wasn’t enough at that point.”

Katelyn Morton led the way for the Mounties, recording three points in the last two periods. Morton was named player of the game.

Dal’s struggles in this game were not helped by the absence of team point leader Jocelyn Leblanc from the scoresheet. She has yet to record a point in the past three games. The Tigers are going to need more offence from her if they are going to be successful in the later stages of the season.

The rematch between the two teams will take place Feb. 11 at Mount Allison. These two points will be crucial for the Tigers when it comes to playoff positioning.

“We just have to get back to the initial game plan and play a full 60 minutes of hockey,” head coach Sean Fraser said.

It goes without saying that their game Saturday is a must win for these ladies as they hope to climb the standings.