Rustlers roast Broncos for weekend split

The Lakeland College Rustlers found more than enough offense on Saturday, erupting for five unanswered goals en route to a 5-1 win over the Olds College Broncos at the Town of Olds Sportsplex.

Ellie Baril scored twice for the Rustlers (3-3-1), while Hailey Carothers added a goal and two assists on her way to being named Lakeland's player of the game; Mackenzie Stafford also had a goal and two assists, while Mykayla Pylypow rounded out the scoring for the Rustlers. In goal, Chantal Weller stopped 18 shots for the victory.

Tessa Knisely responded for the Broncos (2-5-1), while Cienna Kinghorn and Tiana Stafford combined to make 27 saves.

Olds College opened the scoring 1:47 in as player of the game Dani Corrigan intercepted a cross-ice pass in Lakeland's zone and broke in on Weller, with Knisely there to put home the rebound for her third of the season to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. However, the Rustlers would find the equalizer midway through the period, as a loose puck found its way out to Baril in the slot, with the shot finding its way past Kinghorn to tie the game at 1-1 headed to the intermission.

The Rustlers took charge in the second with a three-goal frame, with Baril sneaking another point shot past Kinghorn to put Lakeland up 2-1 five minutes into the period, with Carothers then going end-to-end five minutes later to double the lead before Mackenzie Stafford wrapped up the period by snapping home a Carothers pass to give Lakeland a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Pylypow further cemented the victory with two minutes left, corralling a loose Mackenzie Stafford puck and firing it past Tiana Stafford to complete the scoring.

Both teams are now off through the holidays, with the Broncos returning to the ice on Jan. 12 against the NAIT Ooks in Olds, while Lakeland will wait an extra week before welcoming the SAIT Trojans to town for a doubleheader beginning on Jan. 20.