By Taylor Jenkins

DELTA – In a tightly contested match at home, the Delta Destroyers emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over the Port Moody Panthers. The game was marked by intense puck battles, disciplined defense, and pivotal moments where the Destroyers capitalized on rebounds and a lethal one-timer to secure the win. This matchup was crucial as both teams battled for playoff positioning, and tonight Delta proved their mettle in front of their home crowd.

The scoring opened at around the fifth minute when Zara Amiri fired a sharp one-timer off a pass from Carlos Fernandez and Soraya El Amrani, striking first for the Destroyers. That early goal set the tone, with Amiri impressing with her six shots and active offensive presence.

The Panthers pushed back fiercely, leveling the score midway through the game on a determined rebound finish by Anika Sorensen, assisted by Jack O’Reilly. Sorensen’s grit and relentless efforts were evident, and her goal energized the Panthers who outshot the Destroyers 32 to 25.

The game’s decisive moment came late when Katya Ivanova capitalized on a rebound, redirecting a shot from Amiri and Fernandez to put the Destroyers ahead once again. Ivanova, who peppered the net with seven shots, was a standout alongside Amiri and Fernandez throughout the contest.

In goal, Luka Jovanovic was a steady force, making 19 crucial saves and exhibiting a sharp 95 percent save percentage under pressure. His composure helped blank key Panther scoring chances, especially multiple stops against Okafor.

Panthers’ goaltender Daria Vasilieva also stood tall but faced relentless pressure, finishing with 14 saves and conceding two goals on a high volume of shots against.

Delta coach Marcus Reynolds praised his team’s resilience postgame: “Our players stuck to the game plan, stayed disciplined during turnovers, and made their chances count. That grit and focus in tight moments won us the game.”

Panthers’ Jack O’Reilly remained optimistic despite the loss: “We fought hard and created opportunities, but those little rebounds made the difference tonight. We’ll learn and come back stronger.”

Key Notes

• Delta Destroyers shot efficiency: 12.5% on 25 shots
• Port Moody Panthers held 32 shots but converted at 5%
• Luka Jovanovic stopped 19 saves at 95.0% save percentage
• Zara Amiri contributed one goal and an assist, plus 6 shots
• Game-winning goal was a late rebound finish by Katya Ivanova

The Destroyers’ ability to capitalize on rebounds and maintain poise under pressure proved decisive in this closely fought encounter, leaving fans anticipating an exciting playoff push from both squads.