Wallan and Queens double up Ooks, earn three of four points

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB – After Friday's game went to a shootout between the RDC Queens and NAIT Ooks, it was no surprise that it would be another close contest in Saturday's rematch. The teams were tied with 7:05 left in the third, until Queens forward Camryn Wallan deflected the game-winning goal past Kaitlyn Slator. RDC added an empty netter and wrapped up a 4-2 home decision, earning three of a possible four points in the weekend series. 

The Queens and Ooks entered the game tied for second and Head Coach Kelly Coulter was proud of a complete effort against a squad they're battling for points.

"They are a team that is very skilled and you can never count them out. Fortunately, we were resilient tonight and kept putting pucks on net and getting rewarded with the simplest of things," he says. "I was overall very happy that we played a full 60 minutes, because they are a team that can come back if you let them."

In a cautious opening period, both teams' penalty killing units were put to the test, but neither side could capitalize. 

As the pace picked up in the middle stanza, so did the scoring opportunities. About midway through the period, the NAIT Ooks grabbed a lead. Queens goaltender Karlee Fetch made an initial save, but NAIT third-year forward Cass Lyttle jammed home the rebound. 

While shorthanded, Avery Lajeunnesse tied the game. The first-year Open Studies student used her speed wide, chipping the puck past a NAIT defender and going backhand shelf, over Kaitlyn Slator's blocker.

Avery Lajeunnesse (22)

"We are absolutely impressed with how Avery plays. She uses her quickness really well, which is why I think she's such a good penalty killer and she has a great hockey IQ. She has great hands, so definitely it was a timely goal," says Coulter.

"Penalty killing is about picking up your teammate after they get put in the box, so she did a great job with that and it got us right back in the fight, if you will."

In the third, NAIT third-year forward Megan Leblanc had an opportunity for the go-ahead goal with the extra skater. The Personal Fitness Trainer student tried to beat Fetch high glove, but the fifth-year goaltender flashed the leather. The home team gained some momentum from the successful penalty kill.

Then the Queens and Ooks alternated goals in a five minute span. Slator stopped a Queens' shot from outside the circle, but Brooklyn Rowley shoveled home a rebound at 7:33, providing the Queens a one goal lead. Victoria Johnston and Jenessa Fournier had the helpers.

Nearly two minutes later, Ooks second-year forward Jordan McMillan responded, finding space between Fetch's pads. Then Queens' alternate captain Camryn Wallan deflected an Ashley Sutherland slap shot past Slator, pushing the home side up 3-2.

NAIT pressed late and pulled Slator for the extra skater, but with 46 seconds remaining Jenessa Fournier sealed a 4-2 victory into the empty net.

Over three periods, the NAIT Ooks outshot the RDC Queens 21-15.

Bachelor of Education Elementary student Camryn Wallan was named the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game. Cass Lyttle received the award for the Ooks.

Camryn Wallan (21)

Fetch made 19 saves (0.905) and was a big factor in the Queens picking up the win.

"I thought Karlee Fetch had a really good stand this weekend against a team that is at times physical in the net area," says Coulter. "I thought she was very resilient and played really well. Her veteran leadership is really starting to show."

After a tight game Friday night in Edmonton, Coulter appreciated the Queens' abilities to rise to the occasion in the rematch.

"We were disappointed last night that we couldn't finish it off in the overtime with the opportunity on the power play," he says. "It was a nice bounce back for the girls to learn to play with that intensity, because it will be like that against them all the time."

On Thursday, November 14, the RDC Queens (6-2-0-0) will play the Broncos (1-6-1-0) in Olds at 7:00 p.m. The NAIT Ooks (5-3-0-0) will play an away game against the first place MacEwan University Griffins (7-1-0-0) on Friday at 7:00 p.m.