MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – A late goal salvaged something for the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team on Friday night, but the opening salvo in a weekend series billed as an Alberta College Athletic Conference first-place showdown goes to NAIT.
The homestanding Ooks claimed a 3-1 win in their barn – a triumph that pulls them within two points of the Griffins for top spot in the ACAC with three games in hand.
NAIT (13-2-1-0) will visit MacEwan (13-3-3-0) in the rematch on Saturday night (6 p.m., Downtown Community Arena).
On Friday, the Ooks skated out to a 3-0 lead on a first-period goal by Davina McLeod and two third-period power-play tallies from Verca Kuzelova and Kendra Hanson.
Chantal Ricker scored with 8:13 remaining to pull the Griffins within two. Despite a furious late charge, they were unable to beat Ooks goaltender Tara Bouvette, who made 25 saves.
MacEwan's Sandy Heim made 25 stops for the Griffins.