Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – Coming off a close 1-0 win Friday night, the Saskatchewan Huskies completed the weekend sweep in another tightly contested game, beating the Lethbridge Pronghorns 2-1 in Canada West women's hockey action.
The win is the Huskies fourth straight, all by a single goal and improves the Huskies record to 3-1-2-0, while the Pronghorns have now dropped their fifth game in a row and fall to 1-4-0-1.
Chelsea Debusschere opened the scoring and Bailee Bourassa scored what proved to be the eventual game winning goal for the Huskies. Freshman Kenzie Lausberg tallied the Pronghorns lone goal.
Pronghorn goaltender Alicia Anderson turned aside 38 shots in the loss, while after having last night off, Jessica Vance made 27 saves in the win.
Continuing their masterful play on the penalty kill, the Huskies killed off another four penalties to run their streak to 19 straight time shorthanded without allowing a goal to start the Canada West season.
The Huskies came out firing, outshooting the Pronghorns eight to three before the game hit the 10 minute mark, but like she did a night ago, Alicia Anderson stood tall in the Pronghorn net and gave the Pronghorns some time for find their legs.
Anderson made solid saves off of Emily Upgang twice, including one on a breakaway from the blue line in.
With a delayed penalty waiting to be called, the Huskies opened the scoring. Chelsea Debusschere threw a puck to the net from the half wall that deflected off someone in front and went over the shoulder over a screened Anderson.
Shots through 20 minutes favoured the Huskies 13 to 7.
After going scoreless for more than 80 minutes, the Pronghorns finally found the back of the net less than five minutes into the second period. On a two-on-one rush, Ashley McCabe slid a pass over to freshman Kenzie Lausberg, who chipped a shot over the shoulder of Huskie goaltender Jessica Vance. The goal was Lausberg's first career Canada West goal.
However, the tie would only last just over five minutes before the Huskies would regain their lead. After the initial shot handcuffed 'Horns goalie Alicia Anderson, Bailee Bourassa banged home the rebound for her second of the season.
Mikaela Reay nearly tied the game again a short time later but while her shot eluded Vance, it found the near post and stayed out.
In a more evenly played period, the Huskies again outshot the Pronghorns but it was a close 16 to 14 margin.
The Pronghorns made a good push early on in the final frame, sophomore Kyra Greig had a glorious opportunity to tie the game. Receiving a pass in the high slot, Greig was able to get off a clean shot but Vance was in perfect position to make the save.
Vance continued her stellar play in the Huskie crease, robbing Pronghorn sophomore Alli Borrow in tight off a redirection to keep her Huskies up one with less than 10 minutes to play.
Holding a one goal lead, the Huskies limited the Pronghorns opportunities for the remainder of the third, even with the goaltender pulled the Pronghorns had a hard time getting the puck to the net, only registering five third period shots.
The Pronghorns will face the Calgary Dinos next weekend in a home-and-home series, beginning Friday night in Calgary. The Pronghorns will host the Dinos Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena. The Huskies will also participate in a home-and-home series with the Regina Cougars, traveling to Regina for the weekend opener Friday night.
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Photo by: MPP Photography