Queens defeat the Ooks in their first meeting since the ACAC Championship Final

Red Deer, November 3, 2023 - In a rematch of last season's championship, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens continued their winning ways over the NAIT Ooks as the Queens narrowly defeated the Ooks 2-1 on Friday night.

No goals were scored in the first period and it was very much a close game with the Queens outshooting the Ooks by one after the opening 20 minutes.

But nine minutes into the second period, the Polytechnic would open the scoring on the powerplay with a goal from forward Alli Soyko (Bachelor of Education), assisted by forward Camryn Ward (Bachelor of Kinesiology) and forward Rylee Mepham (Bachelor of Education).

At the end of the second period, the Queens outshot the Ooks 20-16.

Five minutes into the third, forward Chloe Belter would score her first in the ACAC which ultimately was the game-winning goal. Belter was later awarded the player of the game for the Queens.

But the Ooks pushed in the third period as they outshot the Polytechnic 13-7. Ooks Hanna Paquette (Bachelor of Business Administration) managed to squeak one by goaltender Izzy Palumbo (Bachelor of Business Administration) to come within one but despite a hard press in the final two minutes of the game, NAIT fell short and would fall 2-1. Paquette was named the player of the game for the Ooks for her one-goal performance.  Palumbo stopped 27 of 28 shots on the way to her fourth win of the season.

At the end of the game, NAIT outshot the Queens 29-27.

These two teams will be back at it tomorrow night in Edmonton with a 7 pm puck drop.

Players of the game: Hanna Paquette (Ooks) and Chloe Belter (Queens)