2008 National Women's Under-18 Championship

SIZZLING SALISBURY CAN’T HOLD OFF MANITOBANS

NAPANEE, ON – Team Manitoba’s players must have felt a bit of frustration through two periods in their opening game against Team B.C. on Wednesday morning.

Manitoba outshot B.C. 32-13 after 40 minutes but the scoreboard read 1-1, with both teams exchanging first-period power play goals.

The Manitobans, though, kept up the pressure in the third and were rewarded with a pair of goals in a 3-2 win over B.C. to open the 2008 National Women’s Under-18 Championship. The final shot count was 56-22 in favour of Manitoba.

Team B.C. goaltender Taylor Salisbury (Surrey, BC/Vancouver Fusion) made 53 saves and was named her team’s player of the game.

“Yeah, it’s right up there,” Salisbury said with a laugh when asked if it’s the most shots she has faced as a goaltender. “But I remember one time in Atom I played in a game and the shots were in the 70s.”

B.C. opened the scoring at 2:54 of the first when Kathleen McDonald (Kamloops, BC/Pursuit of Excellence) snapped a shot past Manitoba goaltender Tara Lacquette (Waterhen, MB/Westman Wildcats). Manitoba tied the game late in the first on a goal by Kristine Grenier (St. Leon, MB/Pembina Valley Hawks).

After a scoreless second, Manitoba took the lead at 2:33 of the third on a goal by Breann Frykas (East St. Paul, MB/Detroit Little Caesars). Manitoba took a 3-1 lead when Brittany Phillips (Lauder, MB/Westman Wildcats) found the back of the net.

Manitoba needed the insurance as B.C. scored with 1:27 to go, as Rayna Cruickshank connected on a power play.

Salisbury said she enjoys being busy in net … to a certain extent.

“It’s a toss up,” she said. “You want to stay in the game but it’s something where you want your team to get more shots and chances.”

Manitoba (1-0) will face Quebec on Thursday, with B.C. (0-1) taking to the ice versus Alberta.