Kresic strong in RDC net, Broncos edge Queens in shootout

Brent Forster -RDC

After a slow start to Thursday's game at the ENMAX Centrium, the Red Deer College Queens elevated their game in the latter stages but couldn't solve the Olds College Broncos goaltender. Sixty minutes and two overtime periods solved nothing, and the Broncos eventually won in the shootout.

Ariana Kresic started in goal for the Queens while Jaydlin Spooner was in net for the Broncos. Kresic, a Kinesiology & Sport Studies student from Edmonton, started her first Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) game this season and she was fantastic in net. 

The Olds College Broncos had the better opportunities in the first period but Kresic couldn't be beaten. Olds College outshot the RDC Queens 9-6 over 20 minutes.  

Both teams didn't give their opposition many quality offensive chances in the second period. The Broncos had the best opportunity to hit the score sheet when the found themselves on a 5-on-3 power play. Kresic and the Queens' penalty killers were strong and kept the game scoreless. Kresic turned aside all 10 shots while Spooner contended with 4 from the Queens.

The RDC Queens started to apply more pressure and they put more pucks on Spooner in the third period. Morgan Fraser made a nice move to beat a Broncos' defender and found herself in alone on Spooner. The Kinesiology & Sport Studies student tried to score high on the glove side but the Olds College goaltender made the save. Time expired and the contest headed to a 5 minute 4-on-4 overtime period. The RDC Queens outshot the Broncos 15-2 in the final frame.

The Red Deer College Queens had the better scoring opportunities in first overtime, but when neither goaltender could be beaten the game headed to a 5 minute 3-on-3 overtime period. RDC had several chances to end the game on a winning note. Jade Petrie set up Cassidy Anderson in front but Spooner turned it aside. The Queens were buzzing around Spooner but couldn't get a puck past the Business Administration student.

The game headed to a shootout. Six shooters from each team couldn't break the stalemate and it was Hanna Matchett, the Olds College Broncos' seventh shooter, who scored high on the blocker side to give Olds College the win. The RDC Queens earned a point in the standings. 

Queens Hockey Head Coach Kelly Coulter didn't like the start but noted improvement as the game progressed. "During our first two periods I thought that only ten percent of our team looked like they were ready to give a good effort," said Coulter. "Our third period looked a lot better but unfortunately a hockey game is sixty minutes. If you're not prepared to play against teams that are hungry, that's what the end result is. Jaydlin played very well in net for them."

Coulter appreciated the solid performance from Kresic in her first ACAC start in goal. "Our goaltender, Ariana played an outstanding game for her first game in between the pipes and unfortunately I feel that the team let her down. It was an excellent showing from our netminder," said Coulter. "She's a great teammate and I was happy to see her play tonight, but unfortunately I wished that the team could have delivered a victory for her."

Ariana Kresic was named the player-of-the-game for the Queens while Jaydlin Spooner received the award for the Broncos. Kresic turned aside 26 shots over 70 minutes of hockey. Spooner stopped 29 pucks.

The Queens were strong on the penalty kill again and erased 4 advantages for the Broncos.

The third place RDC Queens (10-5-3-) will face-off against the fourth place Broncos (6-12-1-0) in Olds, Friday, January 26, at 7:00 p.m.