2016 Esso Cup

HORNOI WINS IT FOR WEYBURN IN OVERTIME

WENDY GRAVES

WEYBURN, Sask. – There’s probably still some people wondering how the puck got in the net.

But with 1:24 remaining in overtime, after her persistent checking created a turnover in front, Sarah Hornoi’s (Pilot Butte, Sask.) shot from the top of the crease somehow had just enough juice to slip under goaltender Terra Lanteigne (Hatchet Lake, N.S.), giving the Weyburn Gold Wings a 3-2 win over Metro Boston Pizza. It was the host team’s first win at the 2016 Esso Cup.

Even with the win though, Weyburn was eliminated from medal round contention.

For the third straight night, the Gold Wings got the game’s first goal.

Jensen Hammer (Moose Jaw, Sask.) won a battle below the goal line in the Weyburn zone, getting the puck up to Jenna Grube (Estevan, Sask.). Grube then drove up the side boards – to the soundtrack of “Gruuu” from the home fans – and sent a centering pass for Elise Endicott (Regina, Sask.) to tip in.

And then for the third straight night, Weyburn took a 2-0 lead on its opponent. Brooke Mead’s (Regina, Sask.) initial shot on the rush was turned aside by Lanteigne, but Payton Mabee (Weyburn, Sask.) put the rebound into an open net.

Metro knew it couldn’t afford to fall any further behind. The team has gotten great goaltending through four games; it just hasn’t been able to score a lot of goals. It had only two goals in three games coming in.

Kira Memet (Kentville, N.S.) got Metro on the board midway through the period with an outstanding goal. Her wrist shot from the middle of the face-off circle went top shelf far side and sent the water bottle flying off Chantal Burke’s (Saskatoon, Sask.) net in the process.

A four-minute double minor on Endicott early in the third period proved costly to another Weyburn lead.

Jenna Pellerin (Halifax, N.S.) was set up in the slot when she deflected in Kate Gallagher’s (Stillwater Lake, N.S.) shot from the point.

Weyburn had a great chance to end things in regulation when Pellerin was sent off for tripping with 1:46 remaining. Several times a loose puck was free around the net but just out of arm’s reach. Then, with less than a minute to go, Madison Solie (Sedley, Sask.) had an open lane from the point, but Rachel Dorey (Halifax, N.S.) dove in to block the defenceman’s bullet of a shot.