Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
WINNIPEG, Man. – Although they were badly outshot, the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team was within a goal until midway through the third period on Saturday afternoon because of the play of netminder Brianna Sank.
The fifth-year goalie stopped 41 of 43 shots sent her way, but the Griffins' offence couldn't get on track as they suffered a 2-0 loss to the Manitoba Bisons.
"She stepped up today and gave us an opportunity to be in the game," said head coach Chris Leeming. "They scored two powerplay goals – one went off our defenceman's shinpads. It looked like it might have been going wide, so that put them up 1-0. Then they scored another powerplay goal later in the game.
"It wasn't our best. We need more from our group overall."
Louise Fergusson and Aimee Patrick scored for the Bisons to seal a weekend sweep over the Griffins. Manitoba is now 3-2-1, while MacEwan falls to 1-4-1.
The teams had entered the weekend tied for third in the Canada West East Division, which will be a playoff spot at the end of the season, but MacEwan could score only once in two games.
"We just didn't generate enough, big picture," said Leeming. "I thought we got out-competed for the most part in the two games and didn't find a way to execute our game plan, which is getting bodies and pucks to the net front."
The Griffins will be back on the road next weekend, visiting UBC (6-2-0) on Nov. 1-2.
W��| FINAL@umbisons 2@GriffinsWHKY 0
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) October 26, 2024
Brianna Sank was sharp in this one for MacEwan, stopping 41 of 43 shots!#GriffNation
BOXSCORE➡️https://t.co/ds9O7vXgil pic.twitter.com/tzo5X5q05Q
