Ooks take road contest over the Queens at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

Red Deer, AB – In the past three games between the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens and NAIT Ooks, only one goal was the difference.

Saturday's game broke that trend.

After the game was even 1-1 after 40 minutes, NAIT's Cassidy Shandro recorded a natural hat trick in the third period and helped the visitors to pick up a 4-1 decision.

The Ooks got on the board first. NAIT's Darby Robertson beat Queens netminder Izzy Palumbo at 1:35 of the opening stanza. 

When it looked like the Ooks would enter the third period up a goal, Queens first-year forward Brenna knotted the contest 1-1, finally solving Ooks goaltender Havana Batke at 19:59 of the second period. 

Then NAIT's Cassidy Shandro went to work in the final frame. The second-year forward from Edmonton struck at 0:16, 4:41, and 11:31 to lift the Ooks to the road win. 

Neither side could connect on the power play. The RDP Queens went zero-for-two. The Ooks couldn't convert on four tries. 

Kyla Hansel was recognized as the North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game. Cassidy Shandro picked up the honour for the Ooks.

Izzy Palumbo made 25 saves.

Havana Batke turned aside 21 shots.

The first place Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (8-2-1) will face-off against the third seed Broncos (5-6-0) in Olds on Thursday, February 17 at 7 pm.

The Ooks (8-3-0) trail the Queens by one point in the standings.