The Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) Saints avoided elimination from the Winnipeg Women's High School Hockey League Playoffs Wednesday. They battled their way to a 4-3 decision over Fort Richmond Collegiate (FRC) to tie their best-of-three series at one game a piece at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie. Game three is Thursday.

"I was a little nervous when they tied the game late in the third period," laughs head coach Jo-Anne Clark Gillespie. "Hanna Pales can take the puck and control the game (like she did in game one), and if she decides to go, she's going to go. It was nerve wracking after she scored the tying goal but we took those timeouts for a reason. The girls took some deep breathes and we talked about what we needed to do. They're very coachable and when you tell them something you can see they're taking it in."

PCI led 2-0 halfway through the first period. Hailee Morisseau and Maddie Shwaluk were the goal scorers. They did a great job of containing FRC's star player Hannah Pales through the period, but she still managed to find the back of the net with a slapshot on a breakaway.

The teams exchanged goals in the second period. FRC tied the game five minutes in, but the Saints' continuous pressure paid off in the form of a Kiera Shwaluk goal. They led 3-2 to start the third period.

Morgan Parynuik lets a one-timer go from the middle of the circle. She was tasked with shadowing Pales all night and was very effective. (Photo by Aaron Wilgosh)

Portage managed to contain Pales through the majority of the third, even forcing her to take a couple of penalties late in the game, but she still found an opportunity to slip through the defence. She walked by three Saints defenders to tie the game on a breakaway with four minutes left in regulation. PCI wouldn't quit with time ticking off the clock and Morgan Parynuik took the game into her own hands. She beat FRC's star one-on-one at the offensive blue line, got the puck onto her forehand and scored the game winner top corner glove side.

"That desperation level really showed up late in the third period," says Clark-Gillespie. "I'd like to see more of it, though. I challenged all my defence to raise their game, and battle at the blue line. They gave up too many odd-man rushes and we need to eliminate those things. We quit skating and start watching pucks, and this time of year that's going to kill you."

"I think we're back on track after facing some adversity here," adds Clark-Gillespie. "(FRC) wasn't too happy after the game so maybe we'll have them back on their heels a little bit, and maybe they'll know that we'll be the better team (Thursday) and we're going in there to win."

Game three is Thursday at the BDO Centre in Portage la Prairie.