Connor Hood, Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics
EDMONTON - Karissa McNutt's three points paced a lethal Pandas attack, as Alberta earned their sixth win of the season with a 6-1 victory over the visiting Winnipeg Wesmen, Saturday afternoon at Foote Field.
McNutt scored her second goal of the season in the 37th minute, assisting on both Brenna Mattiello and Nicole Palladino's goals in the first half. Anna Dunn, Sydney Daines and Mackenna Parks also scored for the Pandas in the second half. Shae-Lynn Dodds scored the lone Winnipeg goal in the 77th minute.
The Pandas remain undefeated in conference play, improving to 6-0-1. They are also the only undefeated team left in Canada West. Winnipeg, meanwhile, is still in search of their first win, as they fall to 0-4-3.
The Pandas dominated for the entire 90 minutes, grabbing a lead in the fifth minute and never looking back. Mattiello potted her fourth of the season off a feed in tight from McNutt, beating Wesmen keeper Madison Fordyce. Palladino doubled the Pandas lead just 10 minutes later, scoring from almost the same spot as Mattiello inside the Winnipeg box.
McNutt continued her hot play in the 37th, heading in a fantastic cross from Morgan Corbett, heading the ball into the bottom corner for her third point of the first half. Despite eight first-half shots, five of which found the target, Winnipeg couldn't find a way to beat Pandas starter Rebecca Reif.
After a slow start for both teams in the second half, Dunn extended the Pandas lead in the 72nd minute with a bullet from 15 yards out.
Dodds finally capitalized on one of the Wesmen chances in the 78th minute, beating Reif from just outside the Pandas 18-yard box off a partial breakaway.
Her goal was the only offence Winnipeg could muster, however, as the Pandas added two late goals in the 82nd and 87th minutes to earn the convincing win. Alberta finished the match with a staggering 33 shots, including 17 in the second half. The Wesmen finished with 11, and only three in the second.
The Pandas will look to stay undefeated tomorrow afternoon, as they host the Manitoba Bisons at Foote Field. Winnipeg, meanwhile, will head south for a clash with the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary.