CALGARY – Mired in a scoring slump, the University of Calgary Dinos were unable to get on the board, as the University of Saskatchewan Huskies rattled off a 1-0 victory, completing the weekend sweep Saturday night at the Father David Bauer Arena.
"I don't think the players could have played harder" said head coach
Danielle Goyette. "We played smarter today, had better looks and chances today but again, we have to put more pucks on net."
Without a goal in the new year, Goyette showed off some juggled up lines, hoping to generate a spark.
It was Saskatchewan who ended up carrying the play in the first period, as they threw eleven shots at Dinos netminder Kelsey Roberts, but she turned all of them away, including a quality wraparound try for Huskies captain Kaitlyn Willoughby.
Before the end of the first period, defender Kira Makuk accelerated on a back-check to break up a Bailey Bourassa breakaway opportunity, helping to keep the game scoreless heading into the second.
In the early stages of the second, Saskatchewan rear guard Leah Bohlken wired a shot past Roberts, put couldn't beat the crossbar, as the game remained dead locked.
The middle stanza gave way for the Dinos best shift of the game, as they mustered off three quality scoring chances from forwards
Kate Lumley, Rylee Smith and Holly Reuther. Despite the pressure, Jessica Vance stood tall in the second, paving the way to a scoreless third period.
The Dinos held the Huskies at bay, until an ill-timed pinch led to an opening for the Huskies. Leading a 2-on-1 rush, Willoughby ripped a shot far pad that Roberts kicked, with the rebound going to the tape of Emily Upgang, who one-timed the puck past a diving Roberts.
A push back shift for the Dinos gave them their best chance to knot the game back up. Sara Craven worked her way out of the corner before ripping a shot high, which Vance used her mask to keep out.
Saskatchewan kept their foot to the gas until the final buzzer, pumping 17 shots on Roberts in the third period, including a late breakaway in which Roberts went full splits to keep the puck out. A late double-minor to Rylee Smith sealed the Dinos fate, as the game ended 1-0.
Roberts, despite the losses, continued her astounding play, stopping 38 shots, good for a weekend total of 77 saves.
"We have no luck right now" said Goyette. "You can't work that hard and not have any luck, and at some point, it's going to change."
The Huskies will host UBC next weekend, while the Dinos will face off against the Mount Royal University Cougars, in a highly anticipated series, beginning Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Puck drop is slated for 4 p.m.
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