University of Regina Sports Information
REGINA - The University of Regina women's hockey team fell 4-2 in a hard-fought battle against the No. 2-ranked Manitoba Bisons at The Co-operators Centre on Friday night.
Erica Rieder, Madison Cole, Natasha Kostenko and Karissa Kirkup scored for the visitors. Tamara McVannel and Adela Juzkova replied for the Cougars, as both teams move to 3-2-0-0 with the result.
McVannel's goal came at the 11:51 mark of the opening frame, following an Emma Waldenberger shot that was knocked away by Lauren Taraschuk. The rebound slid right into the slot and McVannel stepped up from the blue line to rip a quick wrist shot over the blocker of the Manitoba netminder.
Rieder evened the score just 12 seconds into the second period, as the Regina product centred the puck from behind the net and it took a funny bounce past Jane Kish.
Manitoba had a chance late in the period to take the lead, as Jordyn Zacharias stole the puck in the neutral zone and went in on a breakaway. Zacharias deked to her forehand but missed the net, trying to beat Kish blocker side.
The Bisons did go on top as Cole capitalized on a Cougar turnover in the third period, unleashing a beauty of a wrist shot from the slot that beat Kish.
Kostenko's goal with 5:31 on the clock gave the Bisons some breathing room, as the former Cougar deflected an Alexandra Anderson shot off the crossbar and in. The two-goal lead didn't last long, though, as Juzkova picked up the first goal of her career less than a minute later. Juzkova rushed up the middle of the ice, putting a backhand on goal. Taraschuk handled it easily but it produced a big rebound and the rookie knocked it home.
The Cougars spent a good chunk of time with Kish out of the net for an extra attacker, but eventually Kirkup sent a long shot in with 58 seconds left to ice the game.
Kish finished with 33 stops in the loss. Taraschuk racked up 32 of her own.
The Cougars and Bisons will renew the rivalry on Saturday afternoon, with a 3 p.m. tilt at The Co-operators Centre.