2005 Esso Women's Nationals

New Brunswick -8 Newfoundland & Labrador -1

Round Robin
March 10, 2005
Sarnia, ON

by Dwight Anderson

Newfoundland & Labrador took to the ice in their second game of the day against New Brunswick.  NB beat the NL squad by a score of 4-2 at last year’s Nationals.  The NL squad looked strong in the early going but a persistent NB team scored the first goal 12 minutes into the game. Sara Mattheson skated over the blue line and wrested a shot top corner, catching the NL goal tender (Jagoe) by surprise. 

The NB goal appeared to knock the steam out of the NL team.  NB dominated the remainder of the first period.  Robin Thompson stick handled through a maze of NL players and the goal tender to make it 2-0.  Chelsea Gilbert assisted on Thompson’s goal.  It was late in the first when Abby Barton skated behind the NL net and made a quick pass to Sara Mattheson standing alone in the slot.  Mattheson made no mistake, picking the top corner, giving NB a 3-0 lead going into the second period.

NB pressured early in the second but Mallory Jagoe made several spectacular saves.  Jagoe’s performance seemed to give her team some momentum.  NL started to take the play to NB.  It looked like they might make a game of it until NB jumped on a turnover and broke out on a 2 on 1 midway into the second.  Sara O’Toole rushed up the side; hesitated, then made the perfect pass to Stephanie Roy who slipped the puck past Jagoe.

Roy’s goal was the turning point in the game.  NB dominated the second period and most of the third.  A point shot from Sarah Sollow’s 15 minutes into the second found it’s way in the net for a 5-0 lead.  Chantal Jaillet assisted on Sollow’s goal.  NB made it 6-0 late in the second when Sara Matheson banged in a rebound from a point shot by Chantal Jaillet.  Ashley Duguay also assisted on Matheson’s goal.

NL kept the NB machine off the scoreboard for most of the third.  There were times when NL carried the play but were unable to beat Emily Hobbs.  Hobb’s was solid in goal for NB.  NB made it 7-0 15 minutes into the third when Sara O’Toole stepped out of the penalty box and received a pass from Robin Thompson.  O’Toole broke in alone.  Jagoe stoned her with a spectacular save but Thompson was there to bang in the rebound.

NL finally beat Hobbs late in the third when Lesley Ann Mitchell broke in along the boards and made a crisp pass to Nancy Wadden in the slot.  Wadden found the twine; breaking Hobb’s bid for a shut-out.

NB finished icing the cake with two minutes to play.  NL was setting up their power play in the NB zone.  Abby Barton read the play, intercepted a pass, took off on a break-away and went top shelf for a 8-1 NB victory.

Sara Mattheson with the hat trick was named Player of the Game for New Brunswick.  Despite letting in 8 goals; Mallory Jagoe made countless difficult saves look easy.  Jagoe was awarded Player of the Game for Newfoundland & Labrador.