2005 Esso Women's Nationals

Manitoba - 4 Nova Scotia - 3

Round Robin
March 10, 2005
Sarnia, ON

Manitoba Upsets Nova Scotia….Last Minute Heroics

By Dwight Anderson
www.Sarniasports.com

Manitoba played their second game of the Nationals against Nova Scotia.  Manitoba beat Nova Scotia 3-1 at last year’s tournament.

The Manitoba team that dropped a 9-1 decision to New Brunswick in yesterday’s play improved in leaps and bounds overnight.  They opened the scoring 3 minutes into the game when Shelly Cockerill was set up on a very smart play from Lauren McMillan.

Nova Scotia tied the game midway through the first on a power play.  Tara Miller shot a rocket from the blue line that hit the post.  Maryelle Hannam was on the door step to bang in the rebound.  Manitoba took a 2-1 lead late in the first when Ashley Van Aggelen put on a display of dipsy doodling through a maze of Nova Scotia players; spotted Faith MacDonald at the corner of the net and went tape-to-tape.  MacDonald easily slipped the puck into the net.

Nova Scotia was killing a penalty early into the second period when Tara Dunn robbed the puck in her own end, then went coast-to-coast, picking the top corner on a back hand from a near impossible angle.  Nova Scotia broke the tie late in the second when Brittany Haverstock broke down the side and made the perfect pass to Tara Dunn who redirected the puck in the net.

Manitoba tied the game early in the third when Ashley Van Aggelen redirected a point shot from Christine Durham.  Manitoba kept the pressure on Nova Scotia throughout the third period.  Faith MacDonald was very noticeable for the Manitoba squad. She put on a stick handling course in the last minute of play skating the full perimeter of the Nova Scotia zone; breaking to the slot and ripping a slap shot.  Christine Durham was in the right place.  She banged in the rebound for a 4-3 Manitoba lead and game winning goal.

Faith MacDonald was named Player of the Game for Manitoba while Brittany Haverstock got the honors for Nova Scotia.