OTTAWA (Interstat) — Danielle Serdachny scored twice during a wild opening period, and Corinne Schroeder made 36 saves as the visiting Seattle Torrent defeated the home Ottawa Charge 5-3 at TD Place on April 8. Seattle improved to 9-19. Ottawa dropped to 13-15. The Torrent snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the second time in six games. The Charge lost their third straight game and fell at home after a competitive stretch. Seattle’s victory also came after Ottawa had won the previous meeting between the teams and three of the past four head-to-head matchups.

Seattle had been trending downward before the game. The Torrent had lost three straight and had managed one goal in each of their previous two games. They had also been shut out by Ottawa in the most recent meeting between the clubs. Ottawa, by contrast, had won two of three before dropping its past two contests. The Charge had beaten Seattle three times in the first four meetings this season, including a 4-3 win earlier in the campaign and a 4-2 victory in another matchup. Seattle’s only previous win in the series had come by a 4-1 score.

The first period produced all eight goals and a rapid series of momentum swings. Ottawa opened the scoring at 1:54 when Fanuza Kadirova converted with an assist from Stephanie Markowski. Seattle answered eight seconds later at 2:02, when Serdachny scored off a feed from Lyndie Lobdell. Serdachny struck again at 5:31, with Julia Gosling assisting, to give the Torrent their first lead. Ottawa responded later in the period. After Seattle’s Megan Carter was called for cross checking at 8:34, Gabbie Hughes scored at 8:51 with assists from Peyton Hemp and Emily Clark. Kateřina Mrázová then put Ottawa back in front at 9:46, scoring with help from Rebecca Leslie and Hughes. The lead changed hands again when Seattle’s Jada Habisch scored at 13:09, with Carter and Lily Delianedis assisting. The Torrent took control late. Natalie Snodgrass scored at 18:39 from Gosling and Gabrielle David, and Cayla Barnes added an unassisted goal at 19:41.

Penalties punctuated the frantic first period. Seattle’s Anna Wilgren received a tripping minor at 1:46. Carter went off for cross checking at 8:34. Emily Brown was whistled for delay of game at 11:22. Ottawa’s Brooke McQuigge received an interference minor at 12:04, and Peyton Hemp was called for tripping at 13:59. Seattle’s Barnes was sent off for boarding at 15:04. Ottawa’s Emily Clark received a hooking minor at 16:43, and Taylor House was called for roughing at 17:10. The teams combined for eight minors in the opening period. The flurry included four lead changes and several quick responses, with neither team able to settle into a defensive rhythm.

Serdachny led Seattle with two goals on four shots. Schroeder earned the win with 36 saves on 39 shots. Hughes paced Ottawa with one goal, one assist and seven shots. Barnes added one goal on four shots and two penalty minutes. Gosling finished with two assists and two shots. Habisch scored one goal on two shots and recorded one hit. Mrázová scored one goal on one shot and had one hit. Carter contributed one assist, two shots and two penalty minutes. Snodgrass scored one goal on three shots. Clark recorded one assist, four shots, two penalty minutes and four hits.

Schroeder was central to Seattle’s effort after the first-period barrage. Ottawa generated pressure throughout the game and finished with 39 shots, but Schroeder stopped 36 of them. Hughes and Clark were among the most active Ottawa skaters, combining for 11 shots. Seattle’s defensive corps also contributed offense, with Barnes scoring and Carter and Gosling helping set up goals. The Torrent held on after taking the lead late in the first period.

Ottawa’s power play had opportunities in the first period and converted when Hughes scored during a Seattle penalty. Mrázová added another goal soon after. Seattle’s penalty killers were tested repeatedly, and the Torrent also spent time on the power play when Ottawa took four first-period minors. The special-teams exchanges contributed to the chaotic pace, but Seattle’s late goals in the period proved decisive. Schroeder then made the lead stand with a steady performance over the final two periods.

Seattle entered the game looking to recover from a difficult stretch. The Torrent had lost at Montréal and at New York in a shootout before falling to Ottawa in the previous meeting. The victory gave Seattle a needed road result against a Charge team that had been stronger at home for much of the season. Ottawa had won two of its previous three games before the current skid and had beaten Seattle in the most recent matchup. The Charge had also taken three of four meetings from the Torrent this season before Seattle’s win.

Ottawa’s loss continued a recent slide. The Charge had dropped decisions to Montréal and Toronto before facing Seattle. They remained in the middle of the standings with a 13-15 record. Seattle improved to 9-19 and will look to build on the win. The Torrent next play at Vancouver, while Ottawa next play at Toronto. Seattle will then return home for games against Vancouver, Minnesota and Montréal. Ottawa will host New York after its trip to Toronto and then visit Boston. The Charge will need better defensive play after allowing five goals in the opening period.

The result marked a significant swing in the season series. Ottawa had controlled much of the earlier action between the teams, but Seattle’s five-goal first period changed the tone. The Torrent also improved their road performance after several difficult away games. Ottawa remained ahead in the season series, but the loss was a missed opportunity at home.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Ottawa with a 57.3 percent probability to win. Seattle overcame that projection with its fast start and Schroeder’s goaltending. The Torrent scored five goals in the first period and then protected the lead the rest of the way. The win gave Seattle a rare road result and handed Ottawa another loss during a demanding stretch of the schedule.