Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Lindsey Johnson stood tall in her first start of the Canada West season, but there was only so much she could do as the Griffins women's hockey team fell 4-0 to Alberta on Friday night at the Clare Drake Arena.
Johnson finished the game with 29 saves, but had little chance on the majority of the goals as the Pandas outworked the Griffins in the first meeting of the Canada West season between the cross-town rivals.
"We didn't have any jump in our step," said head coach Chris Leeming. "I thought they were by far the better team for 60 minutes. It was a tough one overall.
"I think personally, we have more than we showed tonight. We have to reset and come back again tomorrow for 60 minutes."
Alberta's Natalie Kieser opened the scoring midway through the first period with a laser off the post and in on a 3-on-2 rush. It was the Pandas' only shot of the period, but it wouldn't be long before the floodgates opened.
Alberta outshot MacEwan 19-0 in the second period and scored three times on tallies by Raegan Yewdall, Jadynn Morden and Megan Wilson.
"We had a really good last 10-12 minutes of the first where we were able to establish some O-zone time and some scoring chances," said Leeming. "But the second period, we really, really struggled. We couldn't get the puck out of our zone. We couldn't get any shots at all."
Johnson continued to make solid saves, though, and was a bright spot on a night the team was outshot 33-11.
"I thought she made some big saves and kept it close early for us," said Leeming. "They scored on that rush goal and two of the goals were rebound goals that we need to help her out on – clearing those loose pucks.
"I think overall for her first game this year, she showed some good stuff."
With the result, Alberta improves to 4-1-0, while MacEwan is now 1-4-0. The rivals will meet again on Saturday (5 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV),. Griffins student-athlete alumni get in free with their M Sweater.
