Cougars Dig Deep and Take Two Games Versus Purple Eagles
The Cougars faced off against the Niagara Purple Eagles in the second game of their weekend set on Sunday afternoon at the Northern Community Centre. Cassidy Dobson would start in goal for the Cougars, opposite Emma Nadeau for the Purple Eagles.
A high paced first period saw both teams trade chances before Niagara forward managed to get one passed Dobson just over five minutes into the game. With the Cougars trailing 1-0, the offence began to ramp it up only allowing 2 more shots the rest of the period, while firing 18 shots on the Purple Eagles goaltender. Nadeau was equal to the task as she kept a clean sheet and had the Purple Eagles in the lead 1-0 at the end of the first period.
With the Cougars trailing, veteran forward Emma Lee would score the equalizer four minutes into the second period, scoring a rebound off an Alyssa Byers point shot tying things up at 1. With thirteen minutes remaining in the period, Emily Moore would take a pass from Emma Lee and work across the high slot before firing a shot into the top corner, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game. Captain Halle MacLachlan would pick up the other assist on the goal. The Cougars would take the 2-1 lead into the third period.
As was the theme of the weekend, in the third period Emily Moore would add her second goal of the game when she found a loose puck in front of the Niagara crease and sent it into the back of the net. Lily Wallsmith would pick up the assist, extending the Cougars lead with 7 minutes remaining. The Purple Eagles were not going to go away easily as they cashed in their second goal of the game with just over four minutes remaining and trimmed the deficit to one. Despite pressure from the Purple Eagles, the Cougars defence and goaltender Cassidy Dobson stood tall and secured the 3-2 victory.
This marks the end of the Cougars schedule for 2024 as they head into their winter break. The Cougars Women’s Hockey team will be back in action on January 10th & 11th, 2025 as the travel to the University of Michigan-Dearborn.