Broncos pick up 2-1 victory over SAIT in home opener

(OLDS)- The Olds College Broncos opened up their 2017 campaign in style, knocking off the SAIT Trojans by a 2-1 margin on Thursday evening at the Olds Sportsplex.

Femke Baker and Ashton Holmes each lit the lamp for the first time of the year for Olds while Shea Lee Dolan picked up a tally for the visitors.

The Trojans got on the board early in the second period. A blocked shot off the stick of Brittany McDonald found a wide open Shea Lee Dolan in open space in front of the net. Dolan easily put the puck into a wide open net to open the scoring.

The lead didn't last long for SAIT, as six minutes later the Broncos were able to equalize. An intercepted pass at the blue line found the stick of Krista Wilson, who gave the puck to an open Femke Baker who was able to pick her spot, and delivered a hard wrister over the blocker of goalkeeper Elisha Oswald.

The Broncos took the lead while shorthanded just six minutes into the final frame. Cassidy Holt took the puck off a Trojans' stick and moved it up ice to Faith Volk. Volk placed the puck nicely onto the stick of Ashton Holmes who made no mistake, putting the eventual game winner past Oswald.

The Broncos did a fantastic job all night putting bodies in front of pucks, keeping offensive chances away from goaltender Jaydlin Spooner. The story was the same as the Broncos protected the lead late. The home team kept the foot on the gas, pinning the Trojans in their own end for most of the final frame while blocking almost every shot from the point shot by SAIT defenders.

Spooner stopped 19 of 20 shots for the win while Oswald turned aside 19 of 21. Faith Volk and Kira Streliev picked up player of the game honours for their efforts Thursday night.

The two squads will be back at it on Saturday night for the back end of their home and home. Puck drop is slated for 7 P.M. at SAIT arena.

Brendan Stasiewich, Olds College Broncos Sports Information