Late goal sinks Trojans

By SAIT Trojans student writer, Colton Pankiw
CALGARY, ATLA., (Feb. 2, 2022) – On Thursday night, SAIT Trojans women's hockey team loses heartbreaker to the Olds College Broncos.

After being the better team for the majority of the night, the Trojans gave up a goal with just 12.4 seconds remaining in the third period to fall 3-2 to the Broncos in their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).

Things started out very well for the Trojans, as they were able to score less than five minutes into the game, courtesy of Pyper Alexander. They deserved more too, as they were leading 12-4 in the shot department midway through the first but were unable to solve Olds College goalie, Cienna Kinghorn.

That would prove costly, as the Broncos evened things up with roughly five minutes remaining in the first thanks to a beautiful breakaway goal by Maddy Black. The first came an end with the 1-1 score still intact despite the Trojans leading 19-8 in shots.

Early into the second period, Tamryn Ward took a penalty for bodychecking, but the Trojans were able to kill it off thanks to some great saves by from Ali Kieren. Unfortunately, Kieren did give one up a short time later on what was a fantastic individual effort by Jesse Jack, who beat multiple Trojans defenders wide before cutting in front of the crease and firing it home.

That lead turned out to be short-lived for the Broncos, as the Trojans finally capitalized on their third power play of the period thanks to a blast from the point by Aislynn Nachtegaele. Once again, both teams headed to the dressing rooms tied, this time at 2-2.

Early into the third, Elisa Erhardt had a great opportunity to put the Trojans back on top but was denied by Kinghorn on a breakaway. Not long after, Ward had another great chance but rang a shot from the slot off the post. Those missed opportunities came back to bite them in a big way, as Black put home her second of the game on a backhand shot to give the Broncos a lead with just 12.4 seconds remaining. That goal stood as the winner in what was a devastating loss from the Trojans.

With the loss, the Trojans fall to 1-8 on the season. The silver lining here is that they have a shot at redemption against the Broncos, as the two are set to face off next Friday in Olds.