Rustlers drop two to Ooks

The Lakeland Rustlers women’s hockey team suffered back-to-back losses against the NAIT Ooks this past weekend. Despite a spirited effort, the Rustlers fell 3–2 in the opener and 3–0 in the rematch.

Friday night’s game at the Russ Robertson was a nail-biter, with both teams displaying balanced play. NAIT lit the lamp first at 5:22 of the opening period, as Hanna Paquette converted assists from Kelly Stanford and Abby Robar.

Lakeland buried the biscuit on the power-play goal at 16:11, as Keyra Buziak, set up by Addison Eurich and Ava Cole, evened the score. However, NAIT snuck one past the keeper at 18:52 when Stanford capitalized on an assist from Abby Bryant.

The second period remained scoreless despite power-play opportunities for both teams. Late in the third, Sidney Kobi’s goal extended NAIT’s lead to 3–1, but Lakeland returned fire quickly. Mackenzie Stafford cut the deficit to one with just 22 seconds remaining, assisted by Darby Robertson. The Rustlers had chances to tie, but a missed open net sealed the result.

“The shots were even in both games,” said Rustlers head coach Morgan Mann. “Friday’s game was a one-goal game, and we missed an open net to tie it late. That’s hockey.”

In Saturday’s rematch, NAIT’s defence stifled Lakeland’s attack. After a scoreless first period, NAIT broke through in the second. 

Meanwhile, Keagan Goulet scored on the power play at 6:54, assisted by Paquette, followed by Stanford netting her second goal of the weekend just 31 seconds later. Jessica Engelbrecht added an insurance goal late in the third, securing the 3–0 shutout.

Mann credited NAIT’s strong defensive play as their key for the weekend.

“They’re a solid group, with lots of length on defence,” he said. “It makes it challenging to apply pressure like we’d want to.”

Read more: Rustlers now 10-0 with weekend win