Wallan and Queens sink Trojans at RDC

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – RDC Queens forward Camryn Wallan was one of the difference makers Friday evening. The third-year Bachelor of Education Elementary student scored a power play and game-winning goal, helping her team finalize a 4-3 decision over the SAIT Trojans, who tried to roar back from a three goal deficit.

The Red Deer College Queens had a strong opening period. At 16:31 of the first, Tyra Anderson beat Trojans netminder Cassidy Brown. Ashley Sutherland had the lone assist.

"I thought we had a great first period - lots of shots, their goaltender played well," says Queens Head Coach Kelly Coulter. "I think we were executing and keeping things to what we practiced. First period was great." 

In the middle frame, the RDC Queens pushed ahead 3-0. Neisha Germann set up Camryn Wallan on the power play and then Braxtyn Shawara found the back of the net nearly ten minutes later. Mary Hirsch picked up the helper on Shawara's tally.

Before the end of the middle frame, the Trojans started to chip away at the lead. Within a four minute span, Davina McLeod and Aislynn Nachtegaele found room behind Queens goalkeeper Madison Fox, bringing their squad within one. 

Karlee Fetch took over in the Queens' net for the final 20 minutes. 

At 14:54 of the third, SAIT's Tashel Scantlebury evened the game 3-3, but the home team persisted. Camryn Wallan scored her second of the contest with 3:39 remaining, and that tally held up as the game-winner. Neisha Germann recorded the lone assist.

"Second and third periods, I thought our puck management was terrible. We turned over a lot of pucks that we shouldn't turn over. We have to be better defending in the house, inside our zone," says Coulter.

"It doesn't matter if we are up 3-1 or down 3-1, we have to play the game the same. In the second period, we got away from our game plan a lot and they came back, and we allowed them to come back." 

RDC outshot SAIT 28-22.

The Queens struck once on four power plays. The Trojans went zero-for-three with the extra skater. 

"I think this year we have more of a focus on our power play. Having new coach Jason (Nevins) with some experience and now Amy (Friestadt) with experience, it allows me to work on special teams which has helped a lot," says Coulter. "So kudos to two very good assistant coaches allowing me to work on something we needed more time on." 

Camryn Wallan was recognized as the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game. Tashel Scantlebury received the award for the Trojans.

"Camryn and Tyra on the game-winning goal, it's something we practice - a little give-and-go or a drop back and they keep things pretty simple," says Coulter. "Cam's always been a very reliable player for us in all zones, so it's nice to see someone with good habits get rewarded."

The second place RDC Queens (3-0-0-0) will challenge the SAIT Trojans (0-3-0-0) on Saturday in Calgary at 7:00 p.m.

"Happy with the win," says Coulter. "I just want it to be a smarter game for us tomorrow."