Germann's clutch performance helps Queens sink Trojans

Brent Forster - RDC

Calgary, AB - Energized by Neisha Germann's hat trick, the Red Deer College Queens struck shorthanded and on the power play, downing the host SAIT Trojans 4-3. 

About midway through the first period, the Queens captured a lead. Only eight seconds into a power play, Sydnee Decorby fired a shot past Kaylin Schellenberg from just inside the blueline. Kaitlan Linnell had the lone assist. 

At 6:07 of the middle frame, Neisha Germann capitalized on a loose puck in the Trojans' zone and found the back of the net while shorthanded. The Bachelor of Kinesiology student controlled the puck around the net and jammed the marker past Schellenberg for a 2-0 edge. In less than a seven minute span, SAIT evened the game 2-2 with tallies from Brittany MacDonald and Davina McLeod. Elisha Oswald took over in the Trojans' net just before McLeod's equalizer. As the period was winding down, Neisha Germann pushed the Queens ahead 3-2 with her second of the game. An RDC power play just expired and Germann, a second-year forward from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, skated up the right side and fired a quick wrist shot behind Oswald with 2:31 left in the period. Catherine Longchamps and Mairead Bast recorded the assists. 

Colby Brochu Photography

The Trojans evened the game early in the third. On the power play, Brittany McDonald pounced on a rebound and shovelled it past Karlee Fetch. When overtime looked like a possibility, Neisha Germann went back to work. With 2:16 remaining in the game, the second-year forward beat Oswald high for a 4-3 edge. Kaitlan Linnell and Jenessa Fournier set up Germann's hat trick goal. Then Fetch and the Queens' defence locked down the road victory.

Both teams had 31 shots.

Neisha Germann and Brittany McDonald were awarded the players-of-the-game. 

Neisha Germann (23) Pic - Tony Hansen

The third place RDC Queens (10-9-4-0) have 24 points. SAIT (5-15-0-0) sits at the bottom of the standings, but trail the fourth place Olds College Broncos (7-13-1-0) by only five points. The top four teams will qualify for the postseason. 

In the Queens' final regular season contest, they will challenge the Trojans on Saturday, February 16 at 2:00 p.m. in Calgary.