Balanced Rustlers attack leads to a 4-2 victory in game three.

The Lakeland College Apex Automation Rustlers and NAIT Ooks squared off in game three of the best of five ACAC league final with the Ooks looking to complete the sweep while the Rustlers were looking to come out and get their first win in the league final. The Rustlers would build a 2-1 lead early, increase it to 4-1 in the third period and skate to a 4-2 victory tonight at the Russ Robertson Arena.

The Rustlers would score two goals in the first period only fifty-eight seconds apart. With 4:59 left in period one, Claudia Lammers would cash in on a scramble in front of the net. Assists would go to Keyra Buziak and Darby Robertson. The Rustlers would add to their lead as Ella Wingert would snipe a shot past Kaitlyn Slator to double the lead. With just 1:30 left in the first period, Bre Martin would cut the lead in half as she beat Mackenzie Dojahn. Halle Graham would draw the lone assist and the Ooks would outshoot the Rustlers 7-6 in period one. Both teams would be assessed one minor penalty and both would kill off their respective opportunities.

Period two would see a steady stream of penalties assessed to both teams. The Ooks would take two penalties about half way through the period where the Rustlers had a sixteen second five on three opportunity, but were unsuccessful in cashing in to increase their lead to 3-1. Both teams would take minor penalties with 5:13 left as the Rustlers were assessed a tripping to Alyssa Shaw and the Ooks took too many players on the ice minor penalty. The Rustlers would take back to back penalties themselves and give NAIT a five on three of their own for 1:35 but a strong penalty kill gave the Rustlers momentum heading into the later stages of the second period. NAIT would draw a minor penalty with one second left on the clock where the Rustlers would start period three on a fresh sheet of ice with a power play chance. The Ooks would outshoot Lakeland 9-8 in the second period. 

With the clean ice and a full power play, the Rustlers cashed in. Hailey Carothers cut through the slot and whistled a shot past Slator to increase the Rustlers lead to 3-1. A primary assist would go to Darby Robertson on the play. This goal was scored thirty one seconds into the last period. With 12:45 to play, Kylie Perry would roof a shot to the glove side of Slator. Perry's goal was set up by a nice pass from Calla Kampen. Ava Cole would draw the other assist and the Rustlers had a 4-1 lead. The Rustlers would run into some penalty trouble after this goal as they would take a minor penalty for body contact. The Ooks failed to score, but capitalized with 8:08 remaining in period three. Cheyenna Harden would score on a nice feed from Bre Martin. Abby Robar would draw the secondary assist and it was a 4-2 lead for Lakeland. The Rustlers penalty kill was put to the test as Lakeland took three penalties in the last seven minutes of the third period. Some big saves from Mackenzie Dojahn would preserve the victory and the Rustlers would leave Russ Robertson with a 4-2 win. Shots on goal for the third period were 15-12 for Lakeland and 29-28 overall for the evening. Players of the game were Kylie Perry for Lakeland and Cheyenna Harden for NAIT. Game 4 in the series goes Saturday March 16th with puck drop at 6:00pm.