University of Regina Sports Information
REGINA - The University of Regina women's hockey team clinched a Canada West playoff berth with a 4-3 double-overtime win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns at The Co-operators Centre on Friday night.
Jaycee Magwood's steal and score at the 1:46 mark of the second overtime period won it for the Cougars, while Lilla Carpenter-Boesch, Bailey Braden and Emma Waldenberger chipped in with third-period goals to force the extra frames.
Keely Chalk, Delaney Duchek and Tricia Van Vaerenbergh scored for Lethbridge as the Pronghorns fall to 3-17-2-5.
After a scoreless first period the 'Horns jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, as Chalk converted a wrap-around after Morgan Baker misplayed the puck in her own end and Duchek deflected a shot home on the powerplay.
Carpenter-Boesch got the Cougars on the board at the midway point of the third period, squeezing a backhand through Brooklyn Paisley off a feed from Waldenberger. Braden drew Regina even with a shorthanded goal at 13:39, working a give-and-go with Magwood and roofing a shot over the shoulder of the Lethbridge netminder.
Just nine seconds after Braden's goal, the Pronghorns went back on top as Van Vaerenbergh raced down the win and ripped a shot to the short side past Baker. The Cougars replied again less than two minutes later, as two Pronghorns were in the box and coach Sarah Hodges pulled Baker for another attacker. The 6-on-3 advantage paid off, as Waldenberger put away a rebound after Paisley stopped a Tamara McVannel point shot.
The winner was Magwood's first goal in 12 games, and couldn't have come at a better time. Lethbridge tried to break out of their own zone in the three-on-three double overtime, but Magwood jumped in and intercepted the pass. The third-year sniper went one-on-one with Lethbridge captain Mattie Apperson and ripped a high shot that beat Paisley blocker side.
Baker made 31 saves for her third win of the season, while Paisley was busy at the other end of the ice, stopping 37 shots.
The Cougars (7-14-2-4) jump a point ahead of Mount Royal into fifth place in the conference with the win. Saskatchewan, UBC and Alberta are all jostling for playoff positioning ahead of the Cougars, which means one of those three teams will play host to Regina in a Canada West quarterfinal series next weekend.
The Cougars and Pronghorns will close the Canada West regular season on Saturday afternoon, with a 3 p.m. puck drop at The Co-operators Centre.