WALDRON GRAIN & FUEL

12/21 14:15 CST Compher scores twice to counter 2-goal effort by top pick Kaltounkov as Sceptres edge Sirens 4-3 Compher scores twice to counter 2-goal effort by top pick Kaltounkov as Sceptres edge Sirens 4-3 NEWARK, N.J. (AP) --- Jesse Compher netted her first two goals of the season, scoring late in the third period to help the Toronto Sceptres hold off New York 4-3 on Sunday, offsetting a two-goal effort by the Sirens' Kristyna Kaltounkov --- the top pick in this year's draft. Compher scored at 9:19 in the first to give the Sceptres' (3-0-1-2) a 1-0 lead, with assists from Allie Munroe and Maggie Connors. Compher made it 4-2 when she took a pass from Claire Dalton and scored with 1:37 left to play. It proved to be the winner after Taylor Girard scored 21 seconds later for the Sirens (2-0-0-5). It was the fourth goal for Girard, while Maddi Wheeler notched her fourth assist. Kaltounkov, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft out of Colgate University and Czechia, found the net with 2:23 remaining to tie it 1-1 after one period. Sarah Fillier and Anne Cherkowski had assists. The Sceptres regained the lead when Blayre Turnbull scored her third goal --- unassisted --- less than two minutes into the second period. Kaltounkov scored her third goal this season, using assists from Casey O'Brien and Maja Nylen Persson on a power play to tie it 2-2 at 6:16. Toronto regained the lead 1:19 later on Emma Maltais' first goal this season --- with an assist from Daryl Watts. Elaine Chuli had 37 saves for Toronto, while Kayle Osborne turned away 23 for New York.

Up next Toronto: Hosts Ottawa on Tuesday. New York: Plays host to Seattle at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday as part of the Takeover Tour. ___ AP women's hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey