Good goaltending and good team defence put the Battlefords AAA Sharks in a position to win one of two games on the weekend when they hosted Swift Current, but twice the home team fell short at the Battleford Arena.
A strong first period by Hannah Brock in the Sharks' net gave her team a chance to grab the lead late in the first period. The Sharks moved in over the blue line and fired the puck towards the net. The shot missed, but bounced off the backboards and in front where Alissa McNeil forced it into the Swift Current net to go up 1-0. McNeil's first of the season was assisted by Kendra Gerbig and Amanda Grainger.
After 20 minutes, the Sharks led 1-0, but were outshot 15-6.
Early in the second, on a powerplay, the Wildcats tied the game with Jena Holden beating Brock.
The Sharks were again outshot in the second, this time 10-4, but Brock was keeping her team in the game. Swift Current continued to press in the third period thanks to three straight powerplays, but again Brock turned all chances away.
The game needed overtime, but nothing was settled and the Sharks earned their first point of the season with a 1-1 tie. Brock was the Sharks' game star with 37 saves. Amy Murray made 11 saves for Swift Current.
Sunday afternoon the two teams were back in action at the Battleford Arena. Again Brock was solid in net, but this time Swift Current drew first blood when Jill Kennedy scored.
After the first period the Sharks trailed 1-0.
Swift Current increased their lead early in the second, as Karrah Newkirk netted an unassisted goal off the rush.
The Sharks 13-year-old forward, Delany Ross, responded with her first goal of the season, as she deflected a hard pass from Jamie Fedler from the sideboards to the slot. Janaya Bourelle drew the second assist as she kept the puck in at the blue line.
Megan French reclaimed the two-goal lead for Swift Current seconds later and the second period ended 3-1 for the Wildcats.
In the third period, the Sharks were shorthanded, but went on the attack, as Fedler took a shot from just inside the Wildcats' blue line. Her shot slid along the ice and through the five-hole of Caitlyn Janzen.
That was as close as the Sharks would get Sunday, as Kali Jamison scored a powerplay goal in the next minute and Newkirk scored her second of the game with 1:13 left to lock up the 5-2 win.
Brock faced 34 shots while the Sharks managed 28 and the home team's player of the game honours went to Fedler for her goal and assist.
The Sharks will play their fifth and sixth straight home games this weekend when they host Melville at the Battleford Arena. Melville is 0-2-0-0 this season while the Sharks' mark is 0-4-1-0.
