2015 Esso Cup

ELIA SCORES TWICE, ASSISTS ON ANOTHER, TO LEAD STARS PAST CAPITALS

WENDY GRAVES

RED DEER, Alta. – In the Battle of Western Canada it was Saskatchewan earning bragging rights over Manitoba.

Nara Elia (Saskatoon, Sask.) had two goals and an assist, Julia Rongve (Saskatoon, Sask.) scored once and Emma Johnson (Saskatoon, Sask.) made 25 saves as the Saskatoon Stars picked up their first win of the 2015 Esso Cup, defeating the Central Plains Capitals on Monday afternoon.

Elia was the story on this day. With her team trailing by a goal entering the third period, a great individual effort by the forward – ending with a wrist shot from the face-off circle – tied the game five minutes into the final frame. She showed her playmaking skills four minutes later, setting up Rongve with a cross-ice, two-line pass that her line mate finished by going top shelf.

Sophie Shirley (Saskatoon, Sask.) and Danielle Girolami (Saskatoon, Sask.) each had an assist for the winners.
Chelsea Hallson (Starbuck, Man.) and Tamara McVannel (MacGregor, Man.) had staked the Capitals to a 2-0 lead early in the second period.

Capitals’ goalie Kathleen Kosior (Winnipeg, Man.) made 19 saves in the loss.

Both teams lost their openers on Sunday, but it was Central Plains who seemed to come out with more urgency, sensing the importance of picking up a win on Day 2 in the short, six-team tournament. The Capitals controlled play for most of the period, not allowing the Stars to play the puck possession game they prefer.

The Manitoba champions got on the board first, 7:06 into the game. Haley Proteau (Winnipeg, Man.) prevented the Stars from moving out of their zone, then shot the puck in off the end boards. Stewart was unable to convert on the fortuitous bounce back to the side of the net, but Hallson was there for the follow through.

The Capitals doubled their lead four minutes into the second. Only 18 seconds after Stars captain Paige Michalenko (Saskatoon, Sask.) was sent off for cross-checking, McVannel’s point shot appeared to deflect off a defender and into the bottom corner of the net.

The Stars drew within one before the halfway point of the period. Saskatoon created a turnover along the side boards, then worked the puck behind the Capital’s net. Elia finished the feed from Shirley, roofing the puck from the face-off circle.