It was a weekend of tough losses for Tigers teams competing in AUS and CIS championships.
Hockey
Women’s hockey played host for the Subway AUS Women’s Hockey Championship this weekend at Memorial Arena. Ranked sixth coming into the tournament, the Tigers were up against first-place seed StFX in the opening game on Thursday. The X-Women scored on a power play early in the first to take the lead. Dal did not get discouraged, though, and five minutes into the second period Miranda McMillan scored a beautiful goal from the point to tie the game. Goaltender Zoe Zivolak made 32 saves as the Tigers put forth a ferocious comeback effort, but it was not enough to topple the X-Women. StFX took the game 3-1 with Dalhousie forward Cassie Banfield earning Subway Player of the Game honours.
Facing UPEI the next day, the Tigers needed a win in regulation time to remain in contention. In the second half of the first period, the Panthers scored on a power play, giving them a 1-0 lead. Jocelyn LeBlanc replied late in the second, assisted by Robyn Nicholson and Jenna Currie. Strong defense on both sides resulted in a scoreless third period, even with Dal pulling their goalie in an attempt to score in the final minutes. The Panthers received a penalty with only 20 seconds left in the game, giving the Tigers a power play advantage to start the overtime play. Less than two minutes in, Cassie Banfield scored and was named Subway Player of the Game. With the 2-1 victory coming in overtime, Dal was eliminated from playoffs.
Basketball
In Antigonish last weekend, the women’s basketball team was competing for the AUS title at StFX. On Friday the Tigers played a quarter-final game against the Saint Mary’s Huskies, a team they had not been able to beat in the regular season. Dalhousie rose to the challenge and commanded an 80-53 win over the Huskies. Keisha Brown was named Subway Player of the Game after dominating the play and banking 31 points. Rachael Harrison drained four three-pointers and added 14 points for the Tigers.
Dal was pitted against the Cape Breton Capers in Saturday’s semifinal game. The Tigers led 27-22 at halftime, but the Capers pulled ahead in the second half for a 77-61 win. Courtney Thompson led for Dal with 17 points and earned Subway Player of the Game distinction.
At the Halifax Metro Centre the men’s basketball team also competed in AUS playoffs. In quarter-final action last Friday the fifth-seeded Tigers took on the fourth-seeded Capers. Dal out-scored Cape Breton in the second and third quarters, but could not shut down CBU’s offense in the fourth. The Tigers lost the hard-fought battle 85-61. Robert Nortmann was Subway Player of the Game for Dal with 22 points and Casey Fox had 10 points.
Volleyball
The men’s volleyball team travelled to Kingston, Ont. last weekend for the CIS championship. Seeded eighth, the Tigers faced first-place seed and defending champions Trinity Western in Friday’s quarter-final. Dal lost in three sets, with Kenneth Rauwerda and Graeme Higgins each posting nine kills. On Saturday the team lost 3-0 in the consolation semifinal versus Alberta. Higgins hit 10 kills while Travis MacLean collected nine digs.
Only one Tigers sport remains in competition – track and field. Both the men and women head to Manitoba for the CIS Championships this weekend.