SASKATOON – In a rematch of last year's Canada West Quarterfinal, the Calgary Dinos women's hockey team once again skated off the ice at Merlis Belsher Place with a win, pulling away late for a 4-1 victory Friday night.
The win is the first of the year for the Dinos, who move to 1-1-0-1 on the young season, while Saskatchewan falls to 0-2-1-0.
Kate Wagner – a native of Saskatoon – opened up the scoring for Calgary midway through the opening frame. Wagner took a pass at the top of the zone and fired.
Kyla Mitenko laid the perfect screen on the Huskies' goalie and Wagner's shot skipped past to make it 1-0.
Things would stay the same until a flurry of goals over the final seven minutes of this one.
Kendra Zuchotski potted her first of the season on a play awfully reminiscent of Wagner's goal, one-timing a pass from the top of the zone on the power play to tie things up at 1-1 with just 6:49 left in regulation.
As it started to look like things might be headed to overtime for the second time already this season for the Dinos,
Rebecca Clarke started a shorthanded run down the left side, keeping the puck tethered to her outstretched stick as she carried the puck into the zone and toward the right corner when she found a streaking
Jess Martens. Martens came up behind Clarke, who perfectly laid the puck off. Martens got the goalie to commit, made a move and beat her back door to suddenly give the Dinos a 2-1 lead with just 2:32 left.
Sydney Mercier and
Sophia Zuck – also both Saskatchewan products – would both add empty netters to leave no doubt and put Calgary in the win column.
Amelia Awad racked up 28 saves in this one for her first win of the season. Awad – the primary backup to start the year – did well in her first chance as the weekend starter for the Dinos after fifth-year
Gabriella Durante has joined HC Real Torino for the remainder of the season as she pursues the Olympic dream and works toward earning a spot on Team Italy.
Durante closes her career in the Scarlet & Gold eighth all-time in Canada West in saves.
The two teams are right back at it Saturday at 5 p.m.
-UC-
