Pandas pressure Bisons in ice final rematch

by Paul Cartledge, U of Alberta Sports Info Assistant

Archive photo courtesy Uwe Welz / U of Alberta Athletics: Tarin Podloski potted the game-winner on a late second period power play

EDMONTON - In their first game of the season, the 0-1-0 Bisons started out slowly against the 3-0-0 Pandas and couldn’t quite their special teams going, despite three opportunities that included a two-man advantage.

Alberta was flying on special teams tonight, however, and struck early in the first when second-year rearguard Stephanie Ramsay took a low point shot that third-year forward Alana Cabana tipped along the ice to head just inside the post on the far side of the net. The goal at the 6:00 mark of the opening frame was her fourth of the season and third on the power play.

After outshooting the Bisons 6-3 in the first period, the Pandas doubled their efforts in the middle frame by putting twice as many pucks towards the Manitoba net and got an extra two goals to show for it. Team captain Tarin Podloski got a hold of a loose rebound from a Ramsay wristshot and had no trouble putting the puck into the empty net.

Just under two minutes later, sophomore forward Monika Moskalski took a wraparound, and put it through the five-hole of Manitoba’s senior netminder Stacey Corfield, for her first goal in Panda silks.

The third period didn’t get any easier for Corfield as fourth-year Calgary native Lindsie Fairfield scored shorthanded just 30 seconds into the period.

The Bisons would respond on the very same power-play when rookie defenseman Caitlin McDonald blasted a shot from the point to prevent the Alberta shutout for fourth-year goalie Dana Vinge.

The Pandas’ Andrea Boras and Katie Borbely would put one each past Corfield late in the third, and 55 seconds apart, to chase her from the net and leave the Canada West champions in need of a better game tomorrow against their victorious rivals.

Manitoba finished 1-5 on the power-play and allowed one shorthanded goal while Alberta finished 3-9 and outshot the Bisons 24-13.

The teams play again on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. MDT at Clare Drake Arena.