2011 Esso Cup

HOWE NETS FIVE-HOLE GOAL FOR NOTRE DAME’S 4-3 SHOOTOUT WIN OVER HOST TEAM

ST. ALBERT, Alta. – Another night at the 2011 Esso Cup, another heartbreaking loss for host teamtheSt.Albert Slash and the hometown fans who rallied behind them on Wednesday inside Servus Place.

The Slash suffered a 4-3 loss to 2010 Esso Cup silver medallists the Notre Dame Hounds, inathrillingmatchup that was forced into a second shootout round in order to decide the winner.

The Hounds stepped onto the ice for the first with confidence, and it showed on the ice as the puttheSlashto the test with a strong, skilled fast-paced game. It only took six minutes for Notre Dame to lightupthelamp behind Slash netminder Chloe Sanderson (Edmonton, Alta.), with talented forward TaylorWoods(Wilcox,Sask.) getting the goal on assists from Danielle Matteucci (Fruitvale, B.C.) and Olivia Howe(MooseJaw,Sask.).

The first frame served as a bit of a wakeup call for the Slash, who came out in the second with amorecalmand collected attitude, holding off the Hounds for the full twenty minutes before the buzzer ontheperiodsounded. But a penalty early in the third cost the Slash goal a goal from Jennifer More(Deloraine,Man.) at1:04, with Matteucci and Woods contributing helpers to make it 2-0 a minute into theperiod and Howeaddinganother midway through the frame to make it 3-0.

Something seemed to click for the Slash after that, however, with the hometown team pullingtogethertostage a crowd-pleasing late game comeback. Melissa Kueber (St. Albert, Alta.) kicked it off,feedingdefenderPaige Foster (Slave Lake, Alta.), who assisted Angela Mason (St. Albert, Alta.) on a goal thatgotSt. Alberton the board. After initiating a first goal for the Slash, 2011 Canada Winter Games goldmedallistand teamcaptain Kueber took control of the game, and the puck, using a powerplay to narrow the gapto 3-2 at13:53 inthe period. She followed that up a mere minute and a half later, showing off some prettystick workanddangling the puck in the slot before putting it past Notre Dame netminder Samantha Langford(Pense,Sask.),making it 3-3 to close out regulation play.

Five minutes of four-on-four proved fruitless for both teams, forcing the game into anintensetwo-roundshootout that had fans on the edges of their seats. Mason scored first on the Slash’s firstshot,but Howefired back for the Hounds not once, but twice, sealing the 4-3 victory in what was a trulyexcitingandentertaining game at the Esso Cup.

The Hounds face the Toronto Aeros at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, while the Slash take on the KodiaksduLacSt-Louis (Québec) at 4 p.m. on the final day of preliminary play.

Penalties:
   06:41 HST 7 Deanna Morin (Tripping)
   18:06 HST 2 Eliza Snider (Cross Checking)

Penalties:
   04:08 HST 8 Charity Price (Hooking)
   05:31 WST 8 Natasha Kostenko (Tripping)
   14:30 HST 10 Brianna Rocque (Hooking)
   19:20 HST 9 Sabrina Flemming (Tripping)

Penalties:
   01:14 HST 5 Jessica Kampjes (Tripping)
   10:01 WST 14 Jennifer More (Hooking)
   12:05 WST 11 Daniella Matteucci (Tripping)
   16:36 HST 23 Karly Heffernan (Hooking)
   19:06 WST 19 Brooke Wilgosh (Tripping)

Goals:
   None

Penalties:
   03:48 HST 17 Haley Kuzyk (Interference)