Last Saturday, the Blues women’s hockey team out-shot, out-chanced, and occasionally out-hustled their opponents. But the seventh-ranked Blues lost 2-0 to the second-ranked and currently undefeated Laurier Golden Hawks, proving that sometimes you need to get lucky in order to win.
The opening period of the Varsity Arena game was a back-and-forth affair. Both teams traded chances, but the more experienced Golden Hawks capitalized first. Taking advantage of a turnover by the Blues in their own zone, Golden Hawks veteran Andrea Bevan fired a high slap shot from the Blues’ blueline. With many players in the crease jostling for position, Blues goaltender Kendyl Valenta had no chance at making the save. At the seven-minute mark, Laurier scored the eventual game-winner.
The insurance goal for the Hawks came less than five minutes later as second-year forward Heather Fortuna got to the rebound from Laurier defenceman Alison Williams’ slap shot before the Blues could clear it out, giving Laurier the 2-0 lead.
“I thought their second goal wasn’t a good goal,” said head coach Karen Hughes. “I thought that was a little unfortunate. And the first goal was lucky. [Valenta] was screened and it was off the post.”
Down two goals early to Laurier, the Blues were in a tough position. Going into the game, the defending OUA champions had only allowed eight goals against in 11 games. With one of the most experienced defences in the OUA and one of the country’s stingiest goaltenders in Liz Knox, the Blues knew that scoring against the Golden Hawks was going to be a difficult affair.
The Blues continued to press hard, despite the two-goal deficit. Coming out of the second period, the Blues defence and goaltender Valenta played a much cleaner, compact game, keeping the score close. As a whole, the team played with energy, out-shooting their opponents 37-22 overall.
For all the chances they created, the Blues were unable to capitalize on them. Against the all-star calibre goaltending of Knox and some hard luck, the Blues failed to cash in on a 1:35 minute 5-on-3 power play in the third period. Second chances for the Blues were difficult to come by as Laurier’s defence often cleared the rebounds in the crease before the Blues could realize the chance was there.
The game indicated that the inexperienced Blues still have a lot of growing to do before becoming legitimate contenders at the national level. Despite the loss, Coach Hughes saw this game as a starting point for her young team, taking a positive perspective.
“Honestly, I don’t feel bad,” said Coach Hughes. “They’re the second ranked team in the country and we out-shot them. I don’t feel that unhappy with that effort. We had chances to score, but we didn’t score.”
