Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

-With files from Alberta Athletics

EDMONTON – Managing to muster just 10 shots on goal, the MacEwan Griffins women's hockey team fell 4-0 to Alberta in the first regular season meeting between the cross-town rivals on Friday night.

"The game, in general, was closer than the shots indicate, but give the Pandas full credit," said Griffins head coach Lindsay McAlpine. "We knew a strength of theirs is they give up very little Grade A opportunities. We struggled to get the puck to those hard areas and couldn't create a ton of offensive chances.

"But we had some decent puck pressure and offensive zone pressure and possession for stretches of time that we can hopefully build on as a positive."

Rookie Natalie Kieser scored a hat trick for the Pandas, who improve to 6-4-1 and remain ahead of the Griffins (5-6-0), who were just one point back of them entering the contest.

"They've got some potent offensive players and when given a prime scoring chance, they don't make a mistake," said McAlpine. "We're still working through those things and we're new to the league."

MacEwan played even with the Pandas for the early portion of the game before Kieser broke the ice midway through the second period, burying a Madison Willan pass past Natalie Bender.

Later in the period, Kieser called her own number on a three-on-one and sniped a top shelf goal which gave the Pandas a 2-0 lead headed into the last frame.

Peyton Laumbach made it 3-0 for Alberta early in the third, snapping home a pass from Willan.

Finally, Kieser scored her hat-trick goal late in the third past a sprawling Bender to confirm the Pandas win.

Bender made 19 saves for the Griffins, while Halle Oswald recorded her first shutout of the season.

Despite the loss, the Griffins can hang their hats on the fact they at least put in a shift.

"When you're playing a team that's a perennial powerhouse in all of U SPORTS, I think we need to take small wins and small gains and continue to fight and work through the process," said McAlpine. "The compete aspect was there and that's what we asked them to do from Day 1. That never faltered through 60 minutes and I'd say that was the biggest takeaway for us."

The teams will meet again on Saturday (5 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).