Men’s Hockey
It’s been a tough stretch for the Tigers to close out the first half of the AUS season for losing three-straight games. The boys were in action twice this weekend against two of the best teams in the nation.
On Wednesday night, the Tigers hosted the StFX X-Men at the Halifax Forum and fell 4-1. The final score is not representative of the game though as the Tigers pulled goaltender Corbin Boes with two minutes remaining in an effort to tie up a 2-1 game. The X-Men went on to score two empty-net goals.
Nathan Pancel scored the first goal of the game on beautiful solo effort late in the first period putting the X-Men up 1-0.
In the opening minutes of the second period Zack MacQueen extend the StFX lead to 2-0.
After a slow period where neither team could create any chances, Wes Herrett stepped in a slap shot and blasted a puck to the back of the net to cut the Tigers deficit to 2-1.
The goal provided a spark for the Tigers but the X-Men capitalized twice on the empty cage.
Corbin Boes had another quality outing, stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced.
The Tigers played their final game of 2015 on Friday night in Wolfville against the Acadia Axemen. AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ was able to grab the first goal of the game late in the opening period as Fabian Walsh scored off a feed from Phil Gadoury and Colton Heffley.
Acadia tied things up just one minute into the second period as Geoff Schemitsch scored on the power play. The 1-1 tie would hold up for the remainder of the period.
The Axemen came out flying in the third period scoring four goals in the opening six minutes of the game. The flurry of goals led the Axemen to a 5-1 win.
AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ finishes the first lag of the season at 4-10-2 and will not be back in action until January 8 when they travel to UNB.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team wrapped up 2015 with a 74-57 win over the StFX X-Men on the road. AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ finishes the first half of the season in a four-way tie atop the AUS standings.
Jarred Reid led the Tigers with a game high 20 points, going an impressive 4-5 from downtown. Reid hit a string of three’s in the second quarter to bust open an 11-point lead at a one point.
The Tigers took a 38-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ put the game out of reach opening the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run extending their lead.
Kashrell Lawrence continues to be a double-double machine putting up 18 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Point guard, Ritchie Kanza Mata led the team with eight assists along side seven rebounds and three points.
The Tigers will enjoy the break and will be back in the New Year for the Shoveller Memorial Tournament that kicks off on January 1 at the Dalplex.
Women’s Basketball
After a promising 3-1 start, the Tigers have gone on to drop three games in a row. In the final game of 2015 the Tigers, fell to the StFX X-Women 69-61 at the Oland Centre. AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ sits in fifth place in the AUS standings and will look to get back to their winning ways in 2016.
At halftime, AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ found themselves down by just two points. The Tigers were outscored 19-11 in the third quarter, giving the X-Women a nice cushion heading into the final quarter.
To start the fourth, the Tigers put up seven unanswered points to cut the lead to 50-47 but could not complete the comeback. StFX hit clutch free throws down the stretch to close out AV¾ãÀÖ²¿.
Ainsley MacIntyre put up 16 points as well as a team high eight rebounds. Tessa Stammberger put up 15 points but struggled to find her touch shooting 5-18 from the floor.
The ladies won’t be back on the court until the New Year when they take on Saint Mary’s at the Dalplex on January 6.
Track and Field
The AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ Tigers track and field team competed in the Athletics Nova Scotia Open this past weekend. Notable opponents included StFX, Acadia and Saint Mary’s University. The following Tigers were event winners:
Sarah Taplin - Women (18-34) 60m Hurdles 33"; Women (20-34) Triple Jump
Matthew Coolen - Women (18-34) 60m Hurdles 33"; Men (18-19) 60m Dash
Adam Manuel - Men (20-34) 1000m Run
Shawna MacKay - Women (18-19) 60m Dash; Women (18-19) 300m Dash
Shannay Beals - Women (20-34) 60m Dash
Corey Conforzi - Men (20-34) 60m Dash; Men (20-34) 300m Dash
Liz Comeau - Women (18-19) 600m Run
Michelle Reddy - Women (20-34) 600m Run
Michaela Walker - Women (20-34) 1500m Run
Mike van der Poel - Men (18-19)300m Dash
Brendan Gemmell - Men (20-34) 3000m Run
Chantelle Robbertse - Women (20-34) High Jump
Chas Smith - Men (20-34) High Jump; Men (20-34) Long Jump
Kate MacLatchie - Women (18-19) Long Jump
Stephen Belyea - Men (18-19) Triple Jump
Bruce Jordan - Men (20-34) Triple Jump
Lindsay Hemstock - Women (18-19) Triple Jump
Women’s Hockey
The women’s hockey team was tasked with back-to-back games this weekend and came away with a win and a loss. First up were the UPEI Panthers on Saturday afternoon, where the Tigers managed to grind out a 1-0 win.
Laura Brooks scored the lone goal of the game in the second period on the power play. Bianca Canade and Courtney Sheedy were credited with the helpers.
It may have been the easiest outing that any Tigers goalie has seen all season as only faced 12 shots in her shutout performance.
Sunday was a different story as the Tigers faced off against the StFX X-Women who sat just one point ahead of the Tigers in the AUS standings at the time. It was a quiet first period with neither side getting on the board.
In the second period the line of Kara Power, Taylor Dale, and Daley Oddy was unstoppable for the X-Women, scoring three of the four second period goals for their side.
Power started off the period with a beautiful short-handed goal on a breakaway. Dale extended the X-Women lead just minutes later.
Tara Mourning was able to slow bleeding beating Pascale Daigle with a backhander. The X-Women closed out the period with two late period goals.
AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ managed to cut the lead to 4-2 on a nice shot from Lisa MacLean in the high slot but it was to little to late. Power would add an empty net goal for a 5-2 final score.
AV¾ãÀÖ²¿ (5-6) will be action next Saturday when they host St. Thomas (6-4-1) at 4:30pm at the Halifax Forum.