Huskies rebound with road win over Spartans

Saskatchewan opened the second period on a power play but it was the Spartans biting back as Michela Naccarato broke in alone and beat Camryn Drever for a shorthanded marker just 59 seconds in. However, despite creating several more chances as the period progressed, TWU was unable to generate a go-ahead goal.

Later in the frame, a pair of Huskies combined to earn their first points of the season. Sara Kendall cruised down the left wing and fed Jasper Desmarais driving the net for a tip-in to put Saskatchewan back in front. Just a minute and a half later, on a similar looking play, Kondrat set up Pozzi, whose shot just squeaked through the five-hole of Maltais for a 3-1 lead. The fifth-year defender now has two goals and six points in eight games.

“I’ve just been putting everything to the net that I can, so it’s been nice to see those goals go in,” Pozzi said. “Generating way more offence than last year as a team has been really nice. It’s nice to score more than two or three goals a game. It’s a little less worrisome in the last couple minutes.”

The Dogs weren’t done there. A few shifts later, Mallory Dyer wheeled out from behind the Spartans net, turned and fired a shot over the shoulder of Maltais for her third goal of the season. The three-goal outburst came in a stretch of 5:06.

“That (Dyer-Kondrat-Hall) line’s been humming for the last four games. They’re hard on pucks,” Kook said. “Mal’s goal, she came out the back side and sniped it up top, that was because of a forecheck. She drives hard around someone and beats them to the net. That drive, you could end up eating the post but you gotta take that chance and you gotta have that if you’re trying to score goals.”

Trinity Western was not going to lay down, however, and as the third period progressed they continued to generate good chances, eventually breaking through with a power play goal by Brooklyn Anderson with about five minutes to play. It was the first power play marker the Huskies have conceded all season, after killing 25 straight penalties to begin the campaign.

The Spartans would continue to pepper the Huskies net with pucks over the final minutes but the Huskies and Drever withstood the challenge, killing another late penalty with Maltais on the bench for an extra skater to create a 6-on-4 advantage. Drever finished the night with 45 saves to continue her stellar start to the season.

The Huskies are now 6-2 as they head home for a marquee matchup with the Alberta Pandas next weekend. Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place. Listen to the action on the HuskieFAN app and huskiefan.ca

Twitter/X: @RFlahertypxp

by Ryan Flaherty

Huskies rebound with road win over Spartans

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