Asquith sends Cougars to national final
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The Assiniboine College Cougars have one final test.
It’s by far the biggest one of their season.
AC knocked off the previously undefeated Boston College women’s hockey club 3-2 in overtime at the American Collegiate Hockey Association women’s Division 2 national championship on Wednesday in Maryland Heights, Mo., punching their ticket to the gold-medal game.
Veronica Asquith takes a face-off during semifinal action against Boston College. (Photo courtesy Assiniboine College)
“Everybody dreams of a moment like that, it’s just whether or not they do it,” said Veronica Asquith, Assiniboine’s overtime hero, who joined the team halfway through the season.
“These girls really picked me up, and they’ve been fantastic all week. They really believe in me and that goes a long way.
“We trust each other so well and we know we can do this.”
The Cougars face the three-time defending champion Sault College Cougars, who dropped the University of St. Thomas Tommies 7-0 in their semifinal.
Sault took the lone meeting of the season 1-0 on Nov. 8 in Fargo, N.D.
The Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., school is moving to the ACHA D1 ranks next year, but Assiniboine hopes to spoil its last big shot at a title today at 5 p.m.
AC will need another big goaltending performance from Rachel Halldorson or Clair Merckx.
Halldorson has recorded two quiet shutouts, with a total of 15 saves in two preliminary games.
Merckx stopped 22 shots in a 10-2 victory over Central Michigan University in pool play, and handled by far the busiest afternoon of the week in the Assiniboine zone on Wednesday. She made 34 saves to keep her team’s season alive.
“She was just outstanding. Every shot, if she didn’t immediately have it, it was a perfect outlet to the corners,” Asquith said.
Cougars forward Veronica Asquith, who’s shown getting pulled down by a Boston College defender, notched the game-winning goal for her club in overtime. (Photo courtesy Assiniboine College)
“It was the best game I’ve seen Clair play, period.”
The Cougars’ top line pounced early, as Asquith and Victoria Mann set up Kasey Fouillard for the opening goal just three minutes 22 seconds in.
Assiniboine had two power plays in the middle of the period, but Boston killed them off and capitalized late in the frame.
Hannah Huxton tied it 1-1 with less than three minutes to go.
BC pulled ahead 16:40 into the second as Ella Lefebvre beat Merckx.
But barely a minute later, Mann knotted it up with helpers by Asquith and Fouillard.
When AC needed it most, the top line delivered.
“Charles put me on a line with them and instantly we clicked,” Asquith said. “All this semester we’ve been there for each other, we read each other extremely well. We all have a different playing style and because of that, we’re always supporting each other.”
The Cougars took a pair of minors in the middle of the third, nearly spending four minutes straight on the penalty box.
They kept the Eagles at bay and forced overtime.
The Assiniboine College Cougars celebrate after advancing to the final following a 3-2 overtime win over Boston College in the semifinal at the ACHA women’s Division 2 hockey national championship on Wednesday. Assiniboine faces Sault College today for the championship. (Photo courtesy Assiniboine College)
Asquith had one thought during the extra intermission.
“We wanted to be the nightmare,” Asquith said. “We were going to end a dream and it sure as s… wasn’t going to be ours. We were so confident in ourselves.”
Both teams had their chances in overtime, but the Cougars took advantage of the one that mattered.
Madison Haliuk chipped the puck off the boards to Asquith, who did the rest.
“I juggled it, it went off my stick, I hit it down, I kicked it … I danced around a girl, somehow, while doing all of that,” Asquith said. “Next thing I know, I’m in the slot and I ripped it as hard as I could.
“Next thing I know, I’m surrounded by the whole team and we’re going to the championship.”
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com