Broncos battle past Trojans in Olds

With their playoff hopes on the line, the Olds College Broncos turned in one of their best games of the season to defeat the SAIT Trojans 2-1 at the Town of Olds Sportsplex on Thursday.

Jenay Hyndman and Avery Kendall scored for the Broncos (7-15-1), who pulled even on points with the Trojans (8-14-0, two OT wins) for the final ACAC playoff spot. Tessa Knisely assisted on both goals, while Ireland Greenhough and Maeve Van't Klooster each registered an assist. Lacey Friesen was solid in goal, making 31 saves for the Olds College victory.

Marlee Fong had the Trojans goal, while Kaylin Schellenberg made 26 saves in a losing effort for SAIT.

The Broncos opened the scoring just over five minutes in off a competitive forecheck that saw Knisely dig up a puck off the side of the net to find Hyndman at the top of the circle, which she fired over Schellenberg's shoulder for her first ACAC goal to put the Broncos up one. The Trojans would tie it up on the powerplay not long after when Fong redirected a Drue Schnitzler shot past Friesen to put the game on level terms at 1-1. SAIT threatened again a minute later as Pyper Alexander produced an opportunity on a breakaway, but Friesen was up to the task to keep the teams tied through 20 minutes.

Olds College would go up to stay early in the second as a good give-and-go from Greenhough and Knisely produced a shot from Greenhough, with Kendall there to pounce on the rebound at the top of the crease to put the Broncos up 2-1, with Friesen remaining locked in from there as the Trojans tried in vain to send it to overtime.

The Broncos and Trojans will battle for the final time in the regular season on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Winsport. The game will be available to watch on ACACTV.ca, as well as on TELUS Optik TV channel 1998.

Players of the Game
SAIT | Marlee Fong
OLDS | Maeve Van't Klooster