Lakeland Rustlers Weekend Recap - February 11, 2025
While curling was at the ACAC Championship, the rest of the Rustlers were also putting in work.
Rustlers Hockey
Women's hockey had a two-game road trip to Olds, AB, to take on the Broncos. The Rustlers had essentially clinched the top spot in the standings two weeks prior, but needed a win to make it clear.
Saturday evening, Lakeland broke the game open in the third period, winning 5-1. Hailey Carothers had another hattrick and Mackenzie Gould-Sharpe made 17 saves for the win. Sunday, Carothers repeated her offensive effort, while Olivia Mann had a goal and 3 assists. Shaye Thompson got the W in net.
This improves the team to 21-2, which means they need one victory to set another program best record after going 21-4 last year. They will have a bye weekend this week and finish the season at home Feb. 21-22 against the Medicine Hat Rattlers.
Rustlers Volleyball
Women's and men's volleyball were at the other end of the province, traveling to Grande Prairie to face the NWP Wolves. Austin Dyer's squad remains undefeated in both matches and sets after a pair of 3-0 victories, in which which former Wolves athlete Lana Matthews compiled 15 kills. The men's team won 3-1 and 3-0 to improve to 13-4, where Brock Tomyn had 20 kills, Gabe Bjorkas had 8 aces and setter Kiefer Sinclair returned to the lineup after being several weeks.
Rustlers Basketball
Men's basketball had a two-game homestand against the Wolves, which resulted in two wins, but taking a very different turn of events. Friday, the Rustlers blew out their opponents 95-57, but faced a tough grind of a game Saturday afternoon. Trailing for much of the final quarter, the Rustlers took a 3-point lead with less than two seconds remaining, only for NWP to tie the game at the buzzer. Trailing again in overtime, a clutch Allayasa Bray triple put the Rustlers up for good, as they won, 95-86. Bray totaled 51 points, 2 blocks, 5 steals and 8 assists for the weekend.
What's Coming Up
Moving forward, basketball and volleyball are set for a big matchup to end the regular season. Men's basketball are away and home against the NAIT Ooks, a team sitting one win ahead in the North Division. This matchup should decide second place in the North, though the Rustlers will have one more road game against TKU on Feb. 20. It will also be senior night for 5th years Bray and Riley Rathwell.
Women's volleyball have a chance at history, with the prospect of their first undefeated season sitting at the end of the weekend against the Ooks, as well as a great opportunity for fans to say goodbye to seniors Emma Letkeman, Lana Matthews and Jenay Varga. Friday night will feature a valentine's Day photo booth set up for fans to take pics as well.
Finally, the men's volleyball team can still play for seeding at the ACAC Championship, which they host Feb. 20-22. Their opponent, the third place Ooks, who are two wins back in the North.
Both nights will have autograph opportunities for young fans after the matches. See you Friday and Saturday night!
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