EDMONTON – Abby Soyko scored two goals for the second straight game to help lead the Alberta Pandas to a 2-1 rivalry win over the Calgary Dinos Friday night at Clare Drake Arena.

With the win, the Pandas move to 15-3-1 and still sit in first place in the East Division. This is their fourth straight win, and ninth in their last 10 games for the U SPORTS fifth-ranked squad.

Calgary saw Josie McLoed's third of the year for what was the only shot to beat Alberta's Gracie Glover, the league leader in goals against average. Amelia Awad was solid, allowing only two goals on 20 shots as the Dinos slip to 6-11-2 and sit in 4th place in the competitive West Division.

The first-place Pandas got out to an expeditious start in this one, with Soyko potting her 4th of the year a minute into the game on a rebound that came from a Natalie Kieser snapshot that put the hosts up one. Alberta would continue to dominate the rest of the frame, hardly allowing Awad any breathing room with constant offensive zone cycling. It would be with nine minutes remaining until the Dinos recorded their first shot on goal, eventually getting outshot 9-4 in the frame. Awad was stellar though and was able to help the Dinos get to the intermission with just a 1-0 deficit.

Calgary was markedly improved in the second period, breaking up extended Pandas attacks and generating some offence on the other end. Midway through the period on a powerplay opportunity Josie McLeod sniped home her third from the right circle to knot the game up at one. They would hold off the Pandas outshooting them 6-5 to head into the final frame with the score at 1-1.

It was a tight third period as the sides jockeyed for the all-important third goal. While the Dinos would get some chances, it would be Soyko who capitalized midway through the frame. A hard Taylor Anker wrister was redirected top shelf by the third-year forward for her astounding fourth goal of the new year to give the Pandas a 2-1 lead. Calgary would pump up the pressure, especially on a late powerplay with the net empty in which they had a two-skater advantage, but Glover held strong for the win.

The teams return to action tomorrow at Father David Bauer Arena for the second game in this home-and-home series, the last time the squads will meet this season.

-UC-