Canada West Semi Final: Pandas cruise in post-season opener

Starting off their 2009-10 playoff season, the No.3 University of Alberta Pandas outdueled a hot goaltender from the Regina Cougars to earn a 3-0 victory for the home team in game one of a best-of-three playoff series, Friday night in Edmonton.

Lisa Urban, who hails from Edmonton, put together a first star, 46-save performance against Alberta, keeping her team in the game, despite the Cougars getting outshot 49-12.

The third-year netminder stood tall against a first-period Pandas barrage, peppered with 18 shots in the opening stanza, but none finding the back of the net.  At the other end of the ice, though, it was Regina who came closer to breaking the goose egg, but the puck slid across the Alberta goal line after the whistle blew.

The new CIS all-time leader in conference points then took centre stage at the start of the second when Pandas captain Tarin Podloski buried a quick cross-crease pass 46 seconds into the middle frame.

Three and a half minutes later, Alberta defenseman Rayanne Reeve streaked in from the point, snared a pass from teammate Andrea Boras, and flipped the puck top shelf for a two-goal lead.

Regina had a great chance to close the deficit with a two-man advantage for 82 seconds midway through the second, but they were only able to muster one shot on senior goalkeeper Dana Vinge, one of only two in the period.

The Pandas tried to get an insurance marker early in the third, but quick hands by rookie blueliner Kristine Jellicoe tucked a loose puck in the crease from an Alana Cabana shot underneath Urban to keep the score at a two-goal deficit for the visitors.

A 4-on-3 power-play late in the third would salt away the game, however, when a point shot by rearguard Andrea Boras with 3:32 left to go in the game made the score 3-0.

Game #2 starts at 7:00 PM on Saturday at Clare Drake Arena.  Winner of the series moves on to the Canada West finals.

Paul Cartledge

University of Alberta Athletics
Assistant SID