Jacob’s late goal lifts Ice to 2-0 series lead

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This article was published 23/03/2024 (907 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Blue-liner Breanne Comte scored once and added two helpers, including an assist on Stephanie Jacob’s game-winning goal to lead the Winnipeg Ice to a 5-3 triumph over the Westman Wildcats at Hartney Arena in Manitoba AAA U18 Female Hockey League final action Saturday afternoon.

The Ice, which opened the best-of-five series with a 3-2 win in double overtime, lead 2-0 with Game 3 scheduled for the hockey for all centre on Sunday at 7:15 p.m.

Game 4, if necessary, would be played in Hartney Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

“These are two teams who are mirror images of each other,” said Winnipeg head coach Eugene Kaminsky. “Both have quality players, quick and disciplined and very competitive. As easy as we are up 2-0, we could be down 2-0.”

Callie Hilhorst gave Westman a 1-0 lead with a power-play marker at 14:47 of the first period. Winnipeg’s Cassie Carvalho tied the game 1-1, also on the power play at 6:14 of the second period.

The teams then exchanged power-play goals with Shayla Scinocca restoring Westman’s one-goal at 17:11 of the middle frame only to have Comte even the score 31 seconds later.

Paige Crossley put the hosts ahead 3-2 with a short-handed marker at 14:17 of the third period, setting the stage for Winnipeg’s Chloe Nicolas to score a power-play goal to tie the game 3-3 at 15:31.

“We had a really good push with short-handed goal was less than five minutes to go, we were up 3-2, and we got in the box again and they’ve got a really good power play that looks to the back door, which we thought we had covered but they called it in.

“We had a goal called back earlier in the game, too, with a quick whistle, so it was unfortunate. I felt the girls deserve better fate today.”

Jacob gave the Ice its first lead of the game at 16:41 of the third period.

“(Comte) created a turnover at our blue line and moved it up to Stephanie Jacob and she did what she has done so often this year with a quick-release shot to the low glove side,” said Kaminsky. “That was the only 5-on-5 goal all game.”

Cali Lavallee would ice the game with an empty-netter with 1:27 remaining.

Danica Averill made 24 stops in the Westman net while Ice goaltender Laura Melizza finished with 15 saves.

“Our backs are to the wall but as I told the girls today, in the best-of-five series it’s Game 3 that’s the most important,” said Franklin. “So if we can ever find a way to scratch out a win tomorrow we can force them to come back to Hartney later in the week.”