Fredericton, NB – The Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues and St. Thomas University Tommies started their winter semester with a battle for the final AUS playoff spot. The Tommies entered the game with 11 points, one back of Moncton for the sixth and final spot. STU struck first in the second, followed by two quick ones from Moncton. The Aigles Bleues took the win after breaking a 2-2 tie with eight minutes left, as Erica Plourde (Pigeon-Hill, NB) cut across the crease to score the eventual game winning goal. Maritza Labrie (Saint-Quentin, NB) rifled the puck down the length of the ice to find the empty net with 40 seconds to give herself her third point of the night, sealing Moncton's 4-2 win.
Pascale Lebeau (Louiseville, QC) and Isadora Quirion (Saint-Gédéon de Beauce, QC) also scored for Moncton, both assisted by Labrie, while Amy Dvernichuk (Regina, SK) and Claire Nimegeers (Wilcox, SK) scored for STU. Nimegeers added an assist with Aislynn Byers (Melancthon, ON) assisting on both.
Devernichuk whacked home the first goal of the game after a scramble in front of the Moncton net in the second period. Moncton would find their first goal in similar fashion with three minutes remaining, having to bully their way into STU goalie Caroline Pietroski's (Etobicoke, ON) crease, scoring on their 20th shot of the game. It wouldn't take them long to take the lead – deflecting a slapshot right off the faceoff in their offensive zone with 38 seconds left in the period. The Aigles Bleues would head into the final intermission with a one goal lead.
STU battled in the third and would sneak one by Moncton goalie Annick Boudreau (Memramcook, NB), as Nimegeers deflected Byers' point shot, going five-hole of Boudreau. The tie wouldn't last long – as Plourde scored just a minute and a half later to put the Aigles Blues ahead. Moncton would go on to win 4-2.
Tommies' head coach Peter Murphy said his team looked good but couldn't make the final push.
"That's the piece we're looking for still," Murphy said. "The ability to finish off the game."
Pietroski made 27 saves for the Tommies while Boudreau stopped 15. Moncton now leads the Tommies by three points for the final playoff spot. They'll be back on the ice at home tomorrow against the Saint Mary's University Huskies, while the Tommies travel to Sackville to take on the Mount Allison University Mounties.
