Panthers defeat Huskies in 4-3 shootout on Senior Night

HALIFAX, NS – UPEI defender Orianna MacNeil scored the shootout winner, lifting the UPEI Panthers to a 4-3 shootout win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action on Saturday afternoon at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.

It was Senior Day for the Huskies as they honoured six graduating seniors – Kara MacLean, Abby McCarthy, Jillian Duggan, Keyara Nelson, Ashley Penney and Sophie Scully – ahead of their final regular season home game at Saint Mary's.

For the second straight game, the Huskies played the visiting team in a scoreless first period, with Saint Mary's outshooting UPEI 8-7, but goaltenders Sophie Scully (Ottawa, ON) and Sarah Forsythe (Riverview, NB) were sharp, turning away all attempts.

It was the Huskies who broke through first in the second period, thanks to one of their graduating seniors, as forward Kara MacLean (Antigonish, N.S.) tipped in a pass from linemate Avery Cant (Waterloo, ON) to put the home team ahead 1-0, 9:03 into the second period.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Kara MacLean tips in the pass from Avery Cant for a senior night goal, giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead!

��K. MacLean (6)
��A. Cant pic.twitter.com/g9nvJeWEx9

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 7, 2026

But the Panthers answered late in the second period with back-to-back goals to take the lead. First it was forward Kaiya Maracle (Toronto, ON) who tied it up with a goal at the 17:06 mark.

Just over two minutes later, UPEI took the lead with a goal from forward Kierra St. Peter (Craigs Flat, NB) scoring to put the Panthers ahead 2-1 with just 26 seconds remaining in the period.

The Panthers outshot the Huskies 15-6 in the second period, and took a 15-6 lead into intermission.

UPEI extended their lead just under five minutes into the third period, with a goal from their leading scorer, forward Brooke Henderson (Halifax, NS) to make it 3-1, 4:45 into the third.

Saint Mary's pushed for an equalizer, but Forsythe turned way several chances, while Scully made some big saves in the Huskies goal to keep the hosts within striking distance.

That paid off with under five minutes remaining in the period, as Kara MacLean picked up a loose puck in the Panthers zone and broke out a series of several sweet dekes, before stuffing the puck past Forsythe for her second goal of the game, cutting the UPEI lead to 3-2 with 4:43 remaining.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Kara MacLean with an absolute beauty individual effort for her second goal of the game, cutting the Panthers lead to 3-2 with under five minutes remaining!

��K. MacLean (7) pic.twitter.com/lFBwcNTX8h

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 7, 2026

With less than two minutes to play, the Huskies captain had her hero moment on Senior Day, taking a pass from fellow senior Keyara Nelson (Belleville, ON) and stuffing it past Forsythe to tie the game 3-3, 18:02 into the third.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

THE CAPTAIN TIES IT UP ON HER SENIOR NIGHT! Ashley Penney scores with just two minutes remaining to force overtime in her final regular season home game at the Dauph!

��A. Penney (3)
��K. MacLean pic.twitter.com/q6ehgtZBDm

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 7, 2026

Penney's equalizer sent the game into overtime, where the Huskies generated several scoring opportunities, but Forsythe turned each one away.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Huskies are heading to overtime for the second straight game as 60 thrilling minutes against the Panthers sees the two teams tied up 3-3! pic.twitter.com/Uo7MH3OsxL

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 7, 2026

That sent the game to a shootout. After Forsythe and Scully stopped the first shooters from each team, Panthers defender Orianna MacNeil (Mabou, NS) patiently waited out Scully and fired a wrister to the bottom right corner, giving the Panthers the advantage, and Forsythe finished it off, denying Huskies Abigail MacKenzie and Kara MacLean to give UPEI a 4-3 shootout win.

UPEI outshot Saint Mary's 36-29 for the game, with Forsythe turning away 26 shots for the win, while Scully made 33 saves on her Senior Day. Kara MacLean was named First Star of the Game with two goals and an assist.

The Panthers fourth straight win improves their record to 14-9-2-0 on the campaign, good for fourth place in the AUS standings. UPEI will remain in Halifax to take on the Dalhousie Tigers (8-11-3-2) on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre.

The Huskies loss snaps a four game win streak, but they earn a single point to bring their record to 13-9-0-4, good for fifth place in the AUS standings. Saint Mary's will travel to New Brunswick next weekend to finish off the regular season, visiting the UNB REDS (19-5-1-1) on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., and St. Thomas Tommies  (16-8-0-2) on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics