NISKU, Alta. – Sophia Zuck had a goal and two assists, and the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team scored twice on the power play to pull away from the University of Alberta Pandas for a 5-1 win Friday night at the Silent Ice Center.
Maisie Cope made 29 saves in goal for Calgary, which kept Alberta off the scoreboard until the final minutes of regulation. The win improves the Dinos' Canada West record to 4-4-1.
The Dinos opened the scoring less than six minutes into the game with help from a lucky bounce. A Calgary shot hit a defender and deflected straight to
Caitlyn Perlinger, who had been left alone in front and made no mistake for her first goal of the season. Zuck and
Bree Kennedy picked up the assists.
The same three combined again just past the midway point of the second period. Zuck streaked in down the left side and sent the puck in front looking for a teammate. It took an odd bounce off
Hannah Reagh, who was parked at the top of the crease, and slipped past Pandas goaltender Grace Glover. It was Reagh's first goal of the season and stood up as the game-winner.
From there, the Dinos' power play took over. With under five minutes left in the second, a wraparound attempt left
Mikayla Blomquist a tap-in from her spot in front of the net, making it 3-0.
Sydney Mercier and
Madison Batch assisted on
Mikayla Blomquist's team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Calgary scored on the power play again just over a minute into the third. A scramble in front pulled Glover out of position, and
Jada Johns put the puck into a wide-open net for a 4-0 lead.
April Klarenbach and
Evelyn Lawrence drew the assists. The Dinos went 2-for-4 on the power play and killed off Alberta's only chance.
Alberta finally scored with about two minutes left in regulation on an unusual play. Confusion on the ice left Cope out of her net, Sarah McNabb scored for the Pandas and the goal stood. Zuck sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the dying seconds, set up by
Brooklyn Blomquist.
It's Calgary's second straight win. Alberta falls to 1-5-1, and it has now lost six games in a row.
The Dinos will return to action Saturday, Nov. 7 when they host the Pandas at 5 p.m. at Father David Bauer Arena. Tickets are available at GoDinos.com/Tickets.
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