Box Score WINNIPEG - Having earned seven of their last possible eight points, the University of Manitoba Bisons women's hockey team was looking to continue their climb up the Canada West standings Friday night at Wayne Fleming Arena (U of M campus) against the Alberta Pandas.
Though it remained a close game, the Bisons failed to bring the same intensity they carried through last weekend's series against 6th-ranked UBC, and the Pandas escaped with a 2-0 win. Alberta improves to 9-3-3 with the win, while Manitoba falls to 8-5-2.
Alberta got a goal from Katie Stewart, and a goal and assist from fourth year Kayla Lavallee. Sophomore goaltender Lindsey Post made 22 saves for the shutout. For Post, that is her fifth-straight shutout, a team, and Canada West record. Manitoba's
Amanda Schubert stopped 19 shots in defeat.
The game got off to a slow start until Alberta broke the stalemate with a power-play goal from Kayla Lavallee at 16:39 of the first period, which proved to be the game winner. It was an innocent looking shot from the side wall that made it past a screened Schubert. Jessica Kampjes and Tess Houston added assists.
In the second, both teams did a good job of keeping things to the outside, and limiting scoring chances. Schupert made a spectacular diving stick save on Alison Campbell off a 2-on-1 late in the frame to keep the Bisons within one. Shots after the second period were 15-13 Alberta.
The Pandas added a second goal, again on the power-play, this time by the captain, Katie Stewart, at 8:55 of the third period. Lavallee and Jocelyn Zabrick were credited with the assists. Manitoba failed to put up any resistance after that, and Alberta was content heading back to the hotel with the 2-0 win.
"We didn't play with any passion or intensity," said Bisons' head coach
Jon Rempel following the game.
"We were flat, and got beat by a better team tonight."
The Bisons will have a chance to avenge the loss tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT at the Wayne Fleming Arena.
