Palumbo backstops RDP Queens to game one victory over NAIT
Red Deer, AB – The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens have struck first in the best-of-three semi-final against the NAIT Ooks.
The Queens had stellar goaltending from Izzy Palumbo and received goals from three different student-athletes in a 3-2 home victory Friday evening.
The RDP Queens had the most efficient power play (15.9%) in the league during the regular season and it got the home team on the board at 15:48 of the second period. Queens captain Avery Lajeunesse was stationed on the left side and connected with Julie Wagner in front of the Ooks net. Wagner, who is a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences student, wasted no time and beat Ooks fifth-year goaltender Kaitlyn Slator low on the blocker side.
Three minutes later, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens went up 2-0. After an offensive face-off win, Queens' first-year forward Hayley Kolosky corralled the puck and beat Slator high on the glove side.
"I thought it was very even, the first two periods. We had two nice goals in terms of Julie getting that shot off on the power play with a nice pass," said Kelly Coulter, Queens Hockey Head Coach. "Then Hayley with the great shot – she's an excellent shooter."
Before the end of the frame, the visitors reduced the deficit to one goal. From the top of the circle, NAIT's Jessica Engelbrecht snapped one over Palumbo's glove.
"We kind of let them back into the game in the last 38 seconds with a missed check," noted Coulter.
At 5:26 of the third period, Engelbrecht, who was selected as the Ooks Player of the Game, scored on the power play to even the contest 2-2. NAIT's third-year forward found space on the right side of the Queens' net.
"Their power play – they have a lot of skilled players, so it was a very evenly matched game," added Coulter.
Both teams connected once on five power play opportunities.
Only 31 seconds later, the Polytechnic regained its lead. Queens' forward Camryn Ward went wide and put the puck on net. After Slator made the initial save, Chloe Belter, a first-year forward from Edmonton, deposited the puck into the empty cage, lifting the Queens ahead 3-2
In the dying minutes, the Ooks looked to pull Slator for the extra skater, but the Queens applied offensive pressure.
"Our girls worked very hard, especially in the end when we were able to keep the puck in their end for the last two minutes, so they couldn't pull the goalie," said Coulter. "I thought we did a good job of executing those parts of our game."
The Queens solidified a 3-2 victory.
Palumbo, who was named North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game, made 30 saves (0.938).
"Izzy was very poised. She read and tracked the puck well, especially when pucks got to the net with a lot of traffic. I thought Izzy did a good job showing a lot of composure," added Coulter. "She bounced back as soon as we got scored on, so she rose up again. She was a key component tonight."
Slator turned aside 18 shots (0.860).
The NAIT Ooks will host the RDP Queens in game two of the best-of-three semi-final on Saturday, March 2 at 6 pm. The Queens know the importance of playing strong defence against a NAIT squad that will want to extend the series to three games.
"We need to put more pressure on the puck. We kind of fell back when NAIT had their push back, so I think if we continue to pressure the puck and get pucks on net, we can be successful," said Coulter. "And continue to do a good job defending and working as a five player unit inside the d-zone. I thought they did a good job for the most part tonight."
If necessary, the third and final game of the series will be played at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on Sunday, March 3 at 7 pm.
Ward (7)