Queens 3 Ooks 2
The RDC Queens put together a complete effort Friday night for their first win of the new year.
In a crucial Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference women’s hockey matchup at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, the Queens had a solid night with a 3-2 victory over the NAIT Ooks.
Coming into the game, the two clubs were tied for second in the ACAC and with the victory, RDC moved into sole possession of second.
“I thought it was a really solid 20 person effort, from our goaltender out,” said Queens head coach Kelly Coulter.
“It was little detail things that we kinda got away from against MacEwan (last weekend) and we focused on them this week and it was nice to see the little things we practiced, they executed. I think when we do execute, we are successful, so it was a very solid effort from all 20 players.”
A pair of power-play goals powered the Queens to the win, as Jenessa Fournier buried on the man-advantage in the first and Camryn Wallan notched the game-winner just past the midway point of the second. Queens rookie Sydney Rowley also punched in a rebound at 7:34 of the second.
“Our power play, I thought we did a better job of moving the puck, rather than skating with the puck,” Coulter said.
“Then just getting to the net, creating traffic. Cam’s (Wallan) goal was the perfect example, Jen (Fournier) was the perfect example, we had traffic there. They got their head up and shot and they did a good job.”
As strong as the Queens power play was on the night, they also allowed a pair of power play goals from the Ooks.
“Penalty kill, we gotta do a better job of protecting the house. They’re a team that has some heavy shots so we have to be aware of that. That’s an area for us to look at and make some adjustments,” Coulter added.
The Queens found the mark first in the opening frame. On a four-minute power play, Fournier wired home her fourth goal of the season with 15 seconds left in the advantage.
NAIT responded on a power play of their own late in the frame, capitalizing on a Braxtyn Shawara hooking minor.
Rowley notched her fourth of the year to open up a 2-1 lead for RDC, then Wallan scored her power play tally to up the advantage.
Treasure Posch buried for NAIT to cut the deficit just under two minutes later, but that’s as close as the visitors got. Posh was the player of the game for NAIT in the loss.
Second-year Queens defenceman Ashley Sutherland, with two assists, was the RDC player of the game.
Queens goalie Madison Fox turned aside 15 shots for the victory, while Kaitlyn Slator stopped 20 in the loss for NAIT.
RDC will travel to Edmonton Saturday night to take on the Ooks.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
