Geordie Carragher, UNBC Sports Information
PRINCE GEORGE – The University of Alberta Pandas pushed ahead early, then finished off a 3-0 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves at the PGYSA Fields on Saturday.
Aly Parth (Edmonton, Alta.), Sydney Daines (Red Deer, Alta.), and Karissa McNutt (Edmonton, Alta.) all scored for the Pandas (5-2-2), while Cassie Bazzarelli (Edmonton, Alta.) made four stops for the clean sheet.
Lianna Toopitsin (Prince George, B.C.), was busy in goal for the Timberwolves (0-9-0), making nine saves.
The Pandas got off to a flying start, drawing an early foul in UNBC territory in the second minute.
Parth capitalized on the opportunity, as her free kick from about 25 yards out curled into the top left corner beyond Toopitsin's outstretched arms for her fourth of the season to give Alberta the early one-goal advantage in the third minute.
Alberta maintained its pressure, eventually extending their advantage in the 20th minute as they took advantage of a UNBC giveaway near its own 18-yard box, with Daines tapping the ball in for a 2-0 lead.
The Timberwolves nearly cut the deficit a few minutes later off a nice passing sequence coming up the right side, but Bazzarelli was aggressive in making the save on Ashley Anderson (Prince George, B.C.) to keep the game scoreless through the first 45 minutes.
Anna Dunn (Edmonton, Alta.) nearly gave Alberta its third goal early in the second half, but her attempt from distance was punched away by Toopitsin to keep the Timberwolves within striking distance.
UNBC's best chance to get on the board in the second half came in the 74th minute off another creative run to spring Madeline Doucette (Prince George, B.C.), though Bazzarelli was there to make the save.
The Pandas iced the game in the 77th minute, as a cross from Daines on the right wing found its way to McNutt, whose shot from outside the 18-yard box beat Toopitsin to the top right corner to round out the scoring.
UNBC and Alberta complete the back end of their doubleheader on Sunday at noon in Prince George.
Photo Credit: Andrea Johnson/UNBC Communications