CALGARY, ALTA., (Oct. 12, 2018) — A third period push was not enough for the SAIT Trojans women’s hockey team.
The Trojans gave up three, second-period goals as they were dropped 5-2 by the visiting NAIT Ooks in their Friday night Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) game played at SAIT Arena.
“Just our second period again; we haven’t been able to string together a full 20-minute period this year,” said Trojans head coach Kelsey Leifson.
SAIT falls to 0-3 on the year, while NAIT improves to 2-1.
Things got off on the wrong foot just 76 seconds into the game when NAIT’s Brittney Savard beat Trojans goalie Kaylin Schellenberg (1st year, Calgary, Business Administration).
The score stayed that way until the second period, when the Ooks increased their lead to four on goals by Jenn Gaeckle, Megan Leblanc and Carlin Boey.
Leblanc and Boey’s markers came on the power play in a period where SAIT found themselves in the box quite a bit.
“It makes a difference when you have to be on the penalty kill for over half the period,” Leifson lamented. “But, we have to find a way to build momentum. We know what they’re going to do, so we have to find a way to get into those shooting lanes.”
In the final period, the Trojans showed signs of life halfway through the frame when Karmen Mooney (4th year, Squamish, BC, Construction Project Management) and Ashton Holmes (2nd year, Bassano, Alta., Academic Upgrading) scored less than 90 seconds apart to cut the Ooks’ lead in half.
However, NAIT would put an end to the momentum gained when Boey iced the win five minutes later.
The teams will finish their weekend set tomorrow night at 6pm in Edmonton.
“I think we build on the third period we had,” Leifson finished. “It’s easy to look at that and gain confidence from it. When we execute the game plan, we’re tough to play against, so we need more of that.”
