EDMONTON- The University of Calgary Dinos fell 4-2 in game one of the best of three Canada West semi-finals against the University of Alberta Pandas, Friday afternoon at the Clare Drake Arena.
Calgary looked to take game one of this three game series Friday afternoon. Holding majority of the first period play in Alberta's end.
The Dinos ran into some penalty trouble midway through the first but continued to hold the Pandas shot less until the 10-minute mark of the period. With two Dinos in the sin bin the Pandas held a man advantage for 1:08 and would take a one goal lead at the end of their power play. Kayla Lavallee put a point shot past an unseeing Carissa Fischer. Morgan Kelly and Lindsey Post picked up helpers on the play.
Calgary didn't sit back in the middle stanza, putting every shot on net. Janelle Parent followed her shot to the net and with a scrum in front put Calgary's tying goal in six minutes into the second period. Erika Mitschke got the assist on the play.
The Pandas used their second power play of the period to their advantage, screening Fischer in front, Tess Houston put in Deanna Morin's rebound to put the Pandas up 2-1.
Alberta would reassure their lead once more before the end of the second period off of a faceoff to the blocker side of Fischer, Houston won the draw back to Allison Campbell who cut across the top of the circle and scored low blocker side to take a 3-1 lead.
Struggling in the beginning of the third period to keep the puck out of their zone, Dinos' netminder Fischer held her own keeping the Dinos within two. Parent closed that scoring gap midway through the period with a pass from Bronwyn Stevens to Parent behind the net, Parent tucked in a quick wrap around, pulling the Dinos within one goal. Amy DiBella picked up a helper on the play.
Despite continuous pressure by the Dinos the Pandas put in an empty netter to take game one, 4-2.
Both teams will face off again tomorrow Feb. 28th for a matinee game of 2 p.m. at the Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton, where the Dinos will look to tie the series up and push for a game three.
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