Assiniboine advances to national semifinals
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Jenna Walker and the Assiniboine College Cougars are two wins away from their ultimate goal.
Walker scored twice as the Cougars blanked the Northern Michigan University Wildcats 5-0 in the last game of pool play at the American Collegiate Hockey Association women’s Division 2 national championship on Tuesday in Maryland Heights, Mo.
“The team came out so, so strong after our first period from (Monday),” Walker said. “It was just awesome to see.”
Assiniboine College Cougars forward Jenna Walker (14) scored two goals in a 5-0 win over Northern Michigan at the ACHA women’s Division 2 hockey national championship on Tuesday. The Cougars are in the semifinals today. (Photo courtesy Assiniboine College)
The Cougars face the Boston College Eagles in the semifinals today at 2:30 p.m.
The other semifinal features the University of St. Thomas and the defending champion Sault College.
The national final is on Thursday at 5 p.m.
“I’m super excited to play the next two days of hockey. I know we’ll make it to the final,” Walker said. “I have confidence in this group, I have confidence in everybody, I’m super proud of where we are and I’m glad I’m here.”
It was a quiet first period as AC didn’t score despite 17 shots on goal. There was no cause for concern, though, as it only allowed two on the other end.
The Cougars dominated the middle frame even more and needed just four minutes and 24 seconds to break through. On a power play, Assiniboine seized its opportunity by way of a 3-on-1 as Madison Haliuk notched her second goal of the tournament.
Walker doubled the lead a second after another penalty expired.
“(Coach) Charles (Tweed) told me before the game to play my game, play straight-lined. I obviously listened,” Walker said.
“I saw the line right from the line, I took it and went short-side top. Madi (Haliuk) gave me a great pass off the wall as we drew up on the board before the game.”
The shot clock hit 22-1 in the period.
“Their goalie (Lauren Eager) absolutely stood on her head. It was unreal,” Walker said. “They played a great defensive game and we just pounded pucks at them and couldn’t find the back of the net but eventually we did and that’s what got us rolling.”
The Wildcats had to open it up a bit in the third, and the Cougars enjoyed the open space in the offensive zone. Walker netted her second of the game, with Katie Falkevitch and Veronica Asquith tacking on two more late.
Rachel Halldorson earned the seven-save shutout as the Cougars limited a team to fewer than 10 shots for the second time in three days.
“Our defence, they move the puck, our goalie, Rachel, always plays the puck, she knows where our forwards and defencemen will be,” Walker said.
“It’s super easy for us to get out of the zone and get the forwards rolling in the O-zone.
“They got a little bit more physical, that’s for sure, but we stood our ground, we knew how to play Cougs hockey and we kept piling it in.”
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com