Vancouver Goldeneyes couldn’t get the OT win against the Ottawa Charge

MEGAN SWAIN/GATG

The Vancouver Goldeneyes encountered the Ottawa Charge for the last time in the regular season on March 14 at the Pacific Coliseum. Ottawa took the overtime win with a 3-2 score.

The first period started off strong, with an Ottawa penalty. Vancouver got multiple shots but none saw the back of the net. 

Sarah Nurse has made her presence known around the crease, contributing to an increase in pressure from the Goldeneyes throughout the season. The home team outshot the Charge 12-4 in the period, but the score remained 0-0 at the whistle.

Ottawa began the second period with a 5-3 player advantage after late penalties in the last period. 

Emotions began to show on the ice, with shoves from both Goldeneyes and Charge players. Ottawa got on the board first late in the second. The goal was contested for goaltender interference but ultimately, Fanuza Kardirova got the goal with just 34 seconds left in the period.

Pressure increased on Vancouver’s end starting the third. Nurse found the back of the net at 9:50, the puck finding the top of the net to equalize the score. The crowd quickly erupted by chanting her name. 

Sophie Jacques extended the lead with a quick shot, scoring at 14:38. 

Yet, Ottawa refused to go down without a fight, pulling their goalie at the 1:20 mark. Their efforts were not in vain as Sarah Wozniewicz tied the score at 19:06.

Vancouver is no stranger to overtime. Claire Thompson got an attempt denied by the Ottawa goalie. 

Even though the Goldeneyes outshot the Charge 36-17 in the game, they could not get the win. Ottawa’s Rebecca Leslie got the winning goal at 2:59 of overtime. 

On making sure how to not give up opportunities for standing points, Jacques said, “I think that as a group, we kind of need to know and be aware of the game situation, to know when we should back off pucks or step up on pucks, just to make sure we keep games in control when we do have the lead.” 

The Goldeneyes play again at the Pacific Coliseum on March 18.