O’NEILL GETS WINNER TO LEAD RED PAST CIS

JASON LA ROSE

CALGARY, Alta. – Kristin O’Neill (Oakville, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC) snapped a third-period tie with just over 14 minutes to go, sending Red past the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) all-stars 3-2 on Tuesday night at Canada’s National Women’s Development Team selection camp.

The win is the second in as many nights for Red, which beat White 4-3 in its camp opener Monday.

Neither team did much offensively in a scoreless first period – White outshot the CIS side 7-4 in the opening 20 minutes – but White struck for a pair of goals before the mid-point of the second.

Sarah Nurse (Hamilton, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WCHA) took advantage of a sloppy CIS change just past the six-minute mark, taking a picture-perfect breakaway pass from Lindsey Donovan (Miramichi, N.B./St. Francis Xavier University, AUS) before roofing a shot over the glove of CIS goaltender Stephanie Sluys (Clinton, Ont./University of Waterloo, OUA).

Less than four minutes later it was Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./University of Minnesota, WCHA) doubling the lead, finding a loose puck at the top of the crease and snapping a quick shot past Sluys.

But penalty trouble doomed White, and Mélodie Bouchard (Sept-Îles, Que./University of Ottawa, RSEQ) took advantage of a five-on-three power play in the final minute of the middle frame to get the CIS stars within a goal after 40 minutes.

CIS needed just 17 seconds of the third period to pull even, with Alanna Sharman (Winnipeg, Man./University of Manitoba, CWUAA) squeezing a shot through the five-hole of White netminder Erica Howe (Orleans, Ont./Brampton, CWHL) while the university side still enjoyed a man advantage.

But O’Neill would restore the White lead for good at 5:46, showing off a quick release to beat Sluys.

Howe earned the win in the White goal, making 10 saves; she came on midway through the second period to replace starter Stephanie Neatby (Toronto, Ont./Princeton University, ECAC), who stopped all six shots she faced.

Both teams will enjoy an off day Wednesday before returning to the ice Thursday; the CIS all-stars are up first, taking on White (4 p.m. MT), before Red meets Sweden (7:30 p.m. MT).