The Olds College Broncos women’s hockey team lost 3-2 to the Red Deer College Queens in the Alumni Home Opener game Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Sportsplex.
Neither team was able to take momentum in the game early, as both teams kept shots to the outside.
Red Deer got the first power play of the season when Brynne Doerksen took a penalty for roughing with 6:50 left in the period. With three minutes left Red Deer returned the favour with a hooking call against Camryn Wallan. As Wallan left the box the Queens took another penalty as Mary Hirsh hit a Broncos player in the corner.
Shots after the first period were 9-8 for the Broncos.
The Queens were able to kill off the Hirsch penalty to start the second period before Broncos forward Payton Bowen took a penalty a minutes later. Just as the Bowen penalty was ending Sarah Jarvis carried the puck in from the point and fired the puck shortside on Red Deer goalie Karlee Fetch to put the Broncos up 1-0.
The Broncos took another penalty with 10:30 left in the second, this time with Fiona Milligan taking a cross-checking penalty and Red Deer made them pay six seconds into the power play with a goal by Hirsch from Braxtyn Shawara.
The teams continued to exchange penalties the remainder of the period with Red Deer out-shooting the Broncos 16-4 in the second. But Broncos goalie Lexi Bruce held down the fort the remainder of the period.
The two teams went back and forth, as the game went on. With 11 minutes left in the third period, Red Deer took the lead when Brooklyn Rowley got a shot through legs and it found the back of the net.
Assists on the goal went to Ashley Sutherland and Sydney Rowley. Two minutes later Red Deer struck again. This time Sutherland scored, assisted by Hirsch.
With just under four minutes left, Kali Cummings passed the puck to Maddy Black who fed Abby Webster in front of the net. She deposited the puck past Fetch to cut the RDC lead to 3-2. Each team called a timeout and, despite a Broncos flurry to end the game, the Queens held on for a 3-2 win.
Player of the Game for Red Deer was defenceman Ashley Sutherland who had the game winner and an assist in the game. The Pit Barbecue Player of the Game for the Broncos was defenceman Sarah Jarvis who opened the scoring for the 2019-20 ACAC hockey season.
Shots were 36-20 for Red Deer with Olds goalie Lexi Bruce making 34 saves and Red Deer’s Fetch making 18 saves. Red Deer had two goals on 10 power-play opportunities while Olds College was unable to score during seven powerplay opportunities.
To learn more about Olds College, the Olds College Broncos and the Broncos hockey team go to gobroncos.ca; like the Facebook page and follow @OldsBroncos on Twitter and Instagram
