(26Feb99)  Friday afternoon at Toronto's Varsity Arena, the Canada West
champion Alberta Pandas eased by the McGill Martlets 3-2, after a 10 minute
overtime and a 1-0 shootout victory.  Alberta had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in
the third, but McGill stormed back after converting a penalty shot.  In the
end, Alberta's positive edge saw them through.
 
There was no scoring in the first two periods.  McGill concentrated on
defense.  Alberta pressed for the lead but came up empty.
 
In the final frame, Maria McKenzie (Krysty Lorenz, Lori Shupak) gave the
Pandas a 1-0 lead when she banged the puck home at the side of the net, on a
power play.  Alberta did not sit back, but pressed for and got their second
score.  Trish Semeniuk (Tara Klassen, Vanessa Hettinger) drilled home a
rebound on a power play.  The Martlets finally turned it on and pressed the
Panda defense into giving up a penalty shot.  McGill's Julie Hornsby scored
with confidence.  The Martlets redoubled their efforts and with two minutes
left, Dana Rittmaster (Hornsby) tipped high an excellent centering pass from
Hornsby to tie the contest at two.
 
There was no scoring in the extra time, though McGill started with a power
play and looked dangerous.  In the shootout, the goalies were winning until
Alberta's last shooter, Semeniuk, gave them the big win.
 
I believe McGill focuses too much on their defensive shell.  When forced to
attack, they have a flair for it.  Megan Hewings played extremely well and
went close in the third, putting her try off the post.  The line of Cailee
Heggestad, Hornsby and Kathleen O'Reilly has a lot of energy, but at times
lack coordination.  The McGill woman of the match was Hornsby.  She is the
Martlet spark plug and made numerous surging rushes.  Overall, McGill went
close.
 
Alberta plays with a bit of a swagger.  It suits them.  They are not afraid to
have a go.  Here-here!  Semeniuk used her run and gun style to lead the Pandas
forward.  The line of Mandy Kinjerski, Shupak and McKenzie played with a lot
of gusto.  Kinjerski made some lovely solo moves.  The Alberta woman of the
match was Erin van de Wetering.  She is a slick blue liner with a refined
skill set.  Van de Wetering used her vision to effectively defeat the incoming
plays.  Overall, it was nice to watch the Pandas go for it.
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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