Cougars Crowned CCWHA Champions!

On Sunday afternoon, the Sault College Cougars faced off against the Central Michigan University Chippewas in the CCWHA Division II league final with a spot at nationals on the line. The Cougars entered the finals having won both their tournament games by a combined score of 10-0, bringing a clean sheet into the finals.

The Cougars came out strong in the first period, recording 15 shots in the frame. CMU goaltender Briana Schroer kept things tight as the game was scoreless midway through the opening frame. Materia Land would break things open for Sault College at 12:07 when she capitalized on a feed from Danika West for her 20^th goal of the season. Emma Lee would add to the Cougars' lead two minutes later with her 20^th of the year when she redirected an Amelia Williams point shot. Annika Babineau would earn the other assist on the goal. The Cougars would take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Sault College ramped up the intensity in the second period, outshooting the Chippewas 22-1 in the frame. Danika West would push the Cougars lead to three goals at the 4:42 mark assisted by Matea Glavota and Materia Land. Less than a minute later, Hayden Dunn would add her third of the year assisted by fellow rookie Kate Jacques. CMU would make a goaltender change at that point, with Lainie Fliegel entering the game in relief. West would add her second of the game unassisted in the dying seconds of the period to push the Cougars lead to 4-0 as the second period ended.

With a focus on defence and puck possession in the third, Sault College seemed content running out the clock for their third consecutive CCWHA Division II title. Taryn Sullivan would add the exclamation mark on an exceptional tournament by Sault College unassisted midway through the third frame to secure the 5-0 victory and the championship!

Farrah Farstad recorded 8 saves for her second shutout in as many games as the Cougars did not surrender a goal on the way to the championship. Farstad was named Tournament Top Goaltender, while Materia Land was named Top Playmaker. The Cougars will now shift their focus to the National Championship in St. Louis, MO from March 21^st – 25^th.