The Lakeland College Rustlers women's hockey team put together a strong second and third period to defeat the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens 3-1 on Nov. 15.
Despite a sluggish start, the Rustlers found their rhythm and dominated the latter half of the game. The team had taken the previous week off to deal with illness, which may have impacted their first-period performance.
Coach Morgan Mann acknowledged the impact of the break on the team’s sharpness.
"We have no excuses, but we hadn’t practiced for a week, and that can make a difference," he said. "The players only had a pre-game day skate, so it took a while for them to get back into a competitive mindset."
Both teams' first period was slow, with limited offensive chances for either side. Lakeland struggled to execute their usual fast-paced game, and the period ended with Red Deer holding a 1-0 lead thanks to a power-play goal from Kaedence Mollin at 11:59. However, Mann’s adjustments during the break helped the Rustlers bounce back with more intensity in the second.
“I think we all sensed it,” said Mann. “Getting back to the basics, like chipping pucks up the wall and getting them deep, really helped us.”
Lakeland also improved their forechecking, which was a key factor in the comeback. Kylie Perry’s goal at 5:20 tied the game at 1-1, followed by Calla Kampen’s go-ahead goal at 19:54.
In the third, Lakeland’s defensive play was even more solid. They limited Red Deer to just five shots on goal, while their offence added another marker from Janay Williams at 4:19. Perry scored her second point of the evening with an assist.
Despite Lakeland’s recovery, penalties continued to plague them throughout the game. They were whistled for six minor infractions, giving Red Deer multiple power-play opportunities. However, the Rustlers penalty kill remained strong, limiting Red Deer’s power-play success to just one goal on six chances. The Kings couldn’t capitalize on the penalties, which helped Lakeland maintain their lead.
Mann was pleased with the team’s overall resilience. "We stuck with it," he said. "When we play our game, we pressure hard all over the ice, and we get after the puck."
Lakeland’s defensive game, especially their relentless forechecking and puck retrieval, frustrated Red Deer and prevented them from gaining momentum.
Goaltender Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe faced 24 shots and allowed only one goal. She maintains the third-best goals against average in the league at 1.50. Her teammate Janae Neufeld's 0.32 GAA leads the league.
Lakeland’s victory improved their record and showed they are a team to be reckoned with, even after a slow start.
“When we’re playing our best, we’re tough to beat. We just need to stay consistent and keep building on this effort,” stated Mann.
The (10-0) Rustlers now prepare for both home and away matches with the second-place (9-1) NAIT Ooks this weekend. The Rustlers handed them their only loss on Nov. 1, 1-0. The home portion of their weekend is Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at Russ Roberston Arena.
Read More: Rustlers’ hockey sweep weekend, again - Meridian Source
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