Cameron Doherty, Huskie Athletics
SASKATOON – A pair of goals in the first period and a perfect night from Jessica Vance led the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's hockey team to a 3-0 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday, Jan. 19 inside Merlis Belsher Place.
Saskatchewan out-shot Lethbridge 49-19 on the night and Brookly Haubrich, Emily Upgang and Leah Bohlken all recorded a goal and an assist with Bailee Bourassa and Sophie Lalor also registering helpers.
Fourth-year goalie Alicia Anderson stood on her head for the Pronghorns, making 46 saves in the loss. On the other end of the ice, Jessica Vance stopped all 19 shots fired her way to make her a perfect 42-for-42 on the weekend.
The win moves Saskatchewan to 9-5-6-2 on the season where they are in fourth place, just one point behind the UBC Thunderbirds for third. Lethbridge meanwhile, drops to 6-12-1-3 on the year and are four points behind the Mount Royal Cougars for the sixth and final playoff spot.
The Pronghorns had the first clear scoring chance of the game ten minutes into the opening frame, Kyra Greig took a feed from Alli Borrow right on the door step, but Vance cut down the angle to shut the door.
Saskatchewan opened the scoring just two minutes later when Upgang drove hard to the net and Huskies' captain Haubrich jammed home the loose puck for her second goal of the season.
The Huskies were dominant throughout the rest of the period and a late powerplay resulted in Upgang poking a puck from a scramble in front of the net that somehow found its way past Anderson to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead heading into the second.
Lethbridge came out strong in the second frame and almost immediately Borrow had a couple chances from in-tight, but Vance stood tall.
Chances were minimal for the remainder of the second period and the score remained 2-0 in favour of Saskatchewan with the home team holding a 30-9 advantage in shots on net.
The Pronghorns had their best chance to score early in the third when Katelyn Breitkreuz broke in all alone but Vance flashed some leather to make the glove save.
With 4:20 remaining in the game first year Sophie Lalor found a streaking Bohlken, who put the puck far-post beyond Anderson for her ninth goal of the season.
Lethbridge had lots of pressure late with a power play and their goalie pulled for six-on-four action, but Vance once again stood tall to stymie any chances.
Both of these teams will be back in action next weekend.
Lethbridge will return home where they will play four-straight contests, beginning with a game against the Manitoba Bisons on Jan. 25. The Huskies meanwhile will head out on the road for a pair of important games against the UBC Thunderbirds that are set for Jan. 25 & 26.