CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The UPEI Panthers have learned an important lesson.
The Panthers led first-place St. FX 3-1 heading to the third period Saturday only to lose 5-3 in Atlantic University Sport women’s hockey action. Small details cost the Panthers the game, said captain Emma Martin.
“I think what was important for us was to identify where we went wrong,” she said before Tuesday’s practice. “It was 40 minutes of solid hockey and we pretty well were dominating that entire 40 minutes and we took our foot off the gas.”
Head coach Bruce Donaldson said the team played five good periods of hockey during the weekend but got away from what had made them successful in the final 20 minutes. The team broke down the video on Tuesday and while not wanting to dwell on the period took it as an opportunity to learn from the mistakes.
“You don't want it to define anything, but you do want to remember it,” Donaldson said.
RELATED: Island trio commits to Panthers.
The Panthers (4-7-5) will have a chance to bounce back when they host Moncton (6-8-2) today at 7 p.m.
“We get to redeem ourselves midway through the week,” Martin said.
“Tomorrow is huge,” she added. “Moncton and our team have always had a huge rivalry, it’s always been really tight, close games. Now, this year, having us so close in the standings, this game just means so much to all of us.”
The Panthers can leapfrog the Aigles Bleues for fifth place with a win tonight. Moncton has won the first two meetings this season with the Panthers, by both 2-1 scores, including one in overtime.
“We’re all fighting for a playoff berth and fighting for a position within that berth,” Donaldson said Tuesday. “We need a win tomorrow night.”
Schedule
A look at this week’s UPEI Panthers varsity sports teams schedule.
Tonight’s Game
Women’s hockey
7 p.m. – Moncton at UPEI.
Friday’s Games
Women’s basketball
6 p.m. – Saint Mary’s at UPEI.
Men’s hockey
7 p.m. – UPEI at St. FX.
Men’s basketball
8 p.m. – Saint Mary’s at UPEI.
Saturday’s Games
Women’s basketball
6 p.m. – Saint Mary’s at UPEI.
Men’s hockey
7 p.m. – UPEI at Dalhousie.
Women’s hockey
7 p.m. – UPEI at Saint Mary’s.
Men’s basketball
8 p.m. – Saint Mary’s at UPEI.
