Broncos unable to claw back in tight fought game

The Olds College Broncos women's hockey team lost 3-1 to the NAIT Ooks in the "Pink in the Rink" game Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Olds Sportsplex. The Broncos were pleased to have Alberta Cancer Foundation at the game with a booth and proceeds from several activities went directly to ACF.

Neither team was able to take momentum in the game early, as both team took turns taking shots on goal but Broncos goalie Lexi Bruce and Ooks goalie Kaitlyn Slator were able to keep the teams at bay. At 3:34 the Ooks broke the deadlock when Bre Martin intercepted a pass at the Broncos blue line and broke through the Olds defenders and put a puck past Bruce for an unassisted marker.

Shots after the first period were 7-6 for NAIT.

The second period was much like the first with both teams taking turns getting shots, but none were strong opportunities until the dying minutes of the period when both teams had strong rushes that were thwarted by Bruce and Slator. With 1:17 left in the period the first powerplay of the game went to NAIT as the Bronco's Kassy Gaudette took a checking penalty. The Ooks returned the favour when Michaella Kibblewhit took a double minor penalty for checking to the head.

Shots after the second period were 17-11 for NAIT.

Shortly after the third period started the Broncos went on their first powerplay of the game. The Broncos capitalized with a goal from Maddy Black assisted by Kassy Tiringer. Tiringer chipped the puck away from a NAIT forechecker who was entering the Broncos zone and Black took skated the puck up the ice and shot it through a NAIT defender and past Slator.

Moments later the Ooks regained the lead when Cass Lyttle scored off an assist from Natsumi  Sugimoto. With 7:35 left in the third NAIT took another penalty this time Treasure Posch for hooking.

With six seconds left in the game Hannah Piket scored an empty net goal to give NAIT a 3-1 win.

Player of the Game for NAIT was Bre Martin and the Pit Barbecue Player of the Game for the Broncos was, with her first ACAC goal, Maddy Black.

Shots were 25-21 for NAIT with Olds goalie Lexi Bruce making 23 saves and NAIT's Slator making 20 saves. NAIT had no goals on one powerplay opportunity while Olds College was one on two powerplay opportunities.

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