Saints play full lineup for first time since season opener

The Portage Collegiate Saints are continuing to improve game-by-game. PCI dropped a 3-1 decision today to the Dakota Lancers but had a plethora of chances to get back in the game in the third period.

"We're starting to get a little bit of offence. All three lines are starting to get the pucks in and are trying to put pucks on net and crash the net," says head coach Jo-Anne Clark-Gillespie. "They're starting to get a little more confidence with the puck. We have a couple of girls that can shoot from the point, so we're trying to get the pucks to them a little more. It's coming, you can see it. That's the first time we've had three full lines and six D (defencemen) since game one."

Ashlen Pierrepoint was the lone goal scorer for the Saints as she found the back of the net in the second period, and goaltender Abby Reichert made 27 saves.

Clark-Gillespie says with every team making the playoffs in their league, they are just hoping to peak at the right time, and until then, the final outcome doesn't matter as much.

With the team finally getting healthy, the head coach says some players may end up having different roles in the near future.

"Girls are going to start moving around. On power-plays, some people might be playing centre when they're usually playing wing. We have some different options," Clark-Gillespie explains. "We have Alexis Waldner, who's going back from D to wing, and she was back to D today. When one of our other injured players comes back, we're going to have an extra skater. So, we're going to kind of use that as a bit of a push for people, too. You got to work hard, so you're not that extra person. Just a little bit of friendly competition."

Clark-Gillespie gives credit to goalie Abby Reichert who leads the league in save percentage and was last week's Player of the Week award winner.

"She and Sofia (Lund) give us a chance to win every game because we know that they're making those first saves. Abby has developed so much as a goaltender. Her playing with the Caps this year, the individual instruction and the work that she's getting with their coaching staff, you can totally see it. Last year, you could tell she was a ringette goalie switching to hockey but she looks like a hockey goalie now."

PCI will wrap up their four-game home stand on Tuesday, November 29, against the CPET Canadiens.