Kampen two goal effort paces Rustlers to victory over Ooks

The Lakeland College Apex Automation Rustlers and NAIT Ooks went head to head in the last ACAC regular season game of the season for both squads. The Rustlers nailed down first place overall and the #1 seed for the playoffs with their shootout victory in Edmonton last night and were looking to continue their momentum. The Ooks had plenty to play for as they still had a chance at the #2 seed, depending on the outcome of the Olds/RDP game this evening as well.

The Rustlers and Ooks played a very physical first period, with eight penalties being accounted for by the officiating crew. Four of those minors were coincidental, post whistle scrums in front of the NAIT goalie, Aurora Van Wormer, and Lakeland goalie, Mackenzie Dojahn. The Rustlers would open the scoring at the 12:17 mark of the first period with Mykayla Pylypow beating Van Wormer in tight, batting a mid-air pass from Janay Williams into the back of the net. The Ooks would have three power play advantages that would be killed off by the Rustlers while Lakeland would have one man advantage in the first period. Both Van Wormer and Dojahn were busy in the pipes as the Ooks outshot the Rustlers 14-12 in period one.

The second period saw the same physicality and intensity in period one. The Ooks would tie things on a passing play from Bre Martin to Halle Graham. Graham would finish things off, putting the puck past Dojahn to knot things at 1-1 heading to period 3. Shots on goal were 12-10 for NAIT in the period. The Rustlers and Ooks would both have two power play opportunities and NAIT's goal was scored on one of their advantages. 

In period three, Calla Kampen would score just over seven minutes into the third as she was sent in on a breakaway and beat Van Wormer. NAIT would take a late penalty with 2:44 left in the period and, playing short handed, Jessica Engelbrecht would capitalize on a Lakeland turnover at the blue line. She would beat Dojahn up high to tie things up. Just as things appeared heading to overtime again, the Rustlers would capitalize on the power play advantage. Calla Kampen would score her second goal of the game. Assists would go to Hailey Carothers and Ellie Baril on the winning goal. Van Wormer would end the game with 30 saves while Dojahn would end the game with 37 saves. Players of the game were Halle Graham for NAIT and Calla Kampen for Lakeland.