2019 National Women's Under-18 Championship

ONTARIO RED STAYS PERFECT WITH WIN OVER ALBERTA

QUINTON AMUNDSON

MORDEN, Man. – Sarah Thompson (Orleans, Ont.) scored two goals and Michelle Pasiechnyk (Ottawa, Ont.) turned aside 30 shots to produce a 4-1 win over Alberta on Wednesday at the 2019 National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

Sarah Campbell (Oakville, Ont.) and Kira Juodikis (Lasalle, Ont.) lit the lamp and Claudia Yu (Stouffville, Ont.) manufactured two assists for Ontario Red, which maintained its standing at the top of the Group A standings with a 2-0 record.

Alexandria Spence (Lloydminster, Alta.) replied with the only goal for Alberta, which saw its record drop to 0-2.

Holly Borrett (Sturgeon County, Alta.) stopped 29 of 33 shots for Alberta.

A sense of urgency in the attacking zone was evident throughout the first period as the two teams combined for 29 shots.

Ontario Red ultimately broke through for two goals in the opening frame as Campbell beat Borrett with a rising wrist shot over the shoulder at 7:48, and Thompson netted her first tally over eight minutes later with a picture-perfect snipe to the top corner from the right face-off circle.

Momentum carried over to the second period as Ontario Red registered 10 of the first 14 shots. Juodikis converted on a goal-mouth scramble to make the score 3-0 at 9:23, and 61 seconds later Thompson beat Borrett with a hard, low shot from the slot while falling down.

Alberta enhanced its attack in response to the four-goal hole by ending the period with seven of the last nine shots. Spence broke the shutout bid on an Alberta power play with a shot from the right point.

Despite a 9-4 advantage in third period shots, Alberta could not draw closer to Ontario.

Both teams ended the game with a 1-for-5 power-play conversion rate.

On Thursday, Ontario Red looks to lock down first place in its group by beating Saskatchewan (5 p.m. CT), and Alberta seeks to end group play with a win over Atlantic (1 p.m. CT).