Fredericton, NB – Caroline Pietroski (Etobicoke, ON) put on a marvelous goaltending display on Friday evening, as the St Thomas Tommies narrowly defeated the UPEI Panthers 1-0 at the Grant-Harvey Centre.
Pietroski began the game very well and kept herself consistent throughout its entirety. She finished the game with an incredible 30 saves. UPEI constantly attacked the goal and it seemed that there was a force field on the goal line. There were two occasions when the puck slid along to ice in front of the goal with no one to put it in.
Tommies' head coach, Peter Murphy, said, "Caroline has been very strong for us for the entire first half and tonight was no different and she made some big stops for us tonight." He was delighted with his goaltender's performance.
The game was a very even matchup as both teams were next to each other in the league's standings. Evidently, the table did not lie and these teams were neck and neck for most of the game. The Panthers had the better of the first, two quarters as they outshot the Tommies 22-16. This was even more remarkable since the Tommies were in the power play five times in those 40 minutes.
The winning goal was scored by Lauren Legault (Winnipeg, MB) in the 3rd period. The Tommies were applying some good pressure in the Panthers' zone and it proved to be fruitful.
Murphy was asked about Legault's goal and replied, "She's played in some big games for us and when you need a goal she often does come up with it for us."
A simple pass from Emma Wilson (Midhurst, ON) set Legault up and she duly obliged. She smashed her shot through the legs of the Panthers' keeper Camille Scherger. UPEI tried everything they could to conjure an equalizer, including pulling their goalie, but they could not find a way past Pietroski and her defense.
Coach Murphy commented on the indifferent first half of the season for the Tommies and made sure that they got a positive result in this game. He explained, "We were really focused on this game to get those points because we haven't had a super first half but we're trying to make sure it finished strong,"
These two teams will be in action on Sunday with UPEI hosting UNB and the Tommies making the trip to Sackville to face Mount Allison.
Recap: Brandon Salick