Julia Gosling scored two goals within two minutes in the second period, lifting the Toronto Sceptres to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Frost in Game 1 of their PWHL semifinal series on Wednesday night.
Julia Gosling’s Fast Goals Make the Difference
Julia Gosling made it 2-0 at 7:47 of the second period, then scored again at 9:42 on a power play. These two quick goals gave Toronto a strong lead and fired up the home crowd. “It was just super fun to get it done at home,” said Gosling.
Blayre Turnbull and Kristen Campbell Play Key Roles
Blayre Turnbull opened the scoring in the first period for Toronto. Goalie Kristen Campbell made 24 saves to help secure the win. Coach Troy Ryan praised the team’s strong defense and timely offense.
Minnesota Frost Tries to Rally but Falls Short
Minnesota got on the board with a power play goal by Britta Curl-Salemme in the second period. Katy Knoll scored early in the third to make it 3-2, but they couldn’t complete the comeback. Goalie Nicole Hensley had 34 saves in a strong effort.
Late Hit Leads to Controversy
Curl-Salemme was given a game misconduct penalty for a hit to the head of Toronto defender Renata Fast, though Fast stayed in the game. Turnbull called the hit “pretty ugly” but said the refs made the right call.
What’s Next in the Series?
Game 2 of the best-of-five PWHL semifinal series takes place Friday night in Toronto. The Sceptres now hold a 1-0 lead over the defending champs.
