Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference "To be Canada's premiere collegiate athletic conference by developing and inspiring leadership through excellence in academics, sport and citizenship"
Posted: Mar 07, 2025

Host Rustlers comeback to tie Rattlers

Host Rustlers comeback to tie Rattlers
Video

Lloydminster, AB - The host Lakeland Rustlers made their weekend debut in exciting fashion against the Medicine Hat Rattlers. Med Hat needed a good result following a loss to NAIT, while the Rustlers wanted to make a statement and get off to a good start for their fans.

In the first couple minutes, Lakeland dominated the pace, getting quality scoring chances and eventually cashing in on goals by Cierra Nuttall and Megan Hockley. However, the Rattlers desponded and roared back to take a 3-2 lead, thanks to a pair of nicely struck shots by Keandra Leslie and an additional score from Olivia Bender. The Rattlers nearly extended the lead, but keeper Lizzie Mcleod held firm to keep the deficit just a goal at half.

Early in the second, it was all Medicine Hat again, with McLeod making multiple highlight-reel saves. Hockley earned her second to tie the game at 3 before Medicine Hat responded with two more goals from Bender. A goaltending change from Lakeland with Payton Arnott in the game helped to calm the Rustlers, who slowly began to gain control of the pace, and a pair of late goals from Smithson tied the game at 5. Despite some close calls, the Rustlers couldn't quite gain the lead, leaving the two teams at a 5-5 stalemate.

Bender and Nuttall were the players of the game.