Max Sturley, Dinos Communications

CALGARY – Holding a lead for 58 minutes, the University of Calgary Dinos blew a lead in the final minute of regulation before losing in double overtime to the University of Regina Cougars 2-1, Friday evening at the Father David Bauer Arena.

"I think tonight we really found a way to lose the game," said head coach Danielle Goyette.

"At the beginning we had good speed, we had a good fight for the first minute of the game and after that we thought it was going to be an easy game and we got caught again."

The Dinos found some offence early on in the contest, as Laine Grace opened the scoring just 67 seconds in. Off a faceoff, Grace from the left circle fired a seeing-eye shot past the blocker of Cougars goaltender Jane Kish, making it 1-0.

Grace's goal was her first of the season, with Brooke Dennett picking up her first point as a Dino.

Regina had their chances in the first, highlighted by Emma Waldenberger, who failed to beat Calgary netminder Kelsey Roberts on a breakaway.

The second period was scoreless, with the Cougars carrying most of the play. Regina had 59 seconds of 5-on-3 power play time, but stayed off the board.

In the third period, the Dinos were unable to convert on multiple power play chances, but couldn't capitalize. Calgary finished the night 0-for-6 on the power play.

The Cougars pulled Kish with over three minutes to go, and piled on the pressure, eventually making way for the game tying goal.

After a Dinos icing, the Cougars were in the zone with an extra attacker for nearly two minutes, before Lilia Carpenter-Boesch scored with 50 seconds left, tying the game 1-1.

The score stayed at ones for the rest of the third and the first overtime, so the game headed to 3-on-3 action.

The Dinos nearly ended the game twice on one shift as forwards Taylor Beck and Brooke Dennett were unable to beat Kish on golden individual opportunities.

After another swing in the action, Laine Grace took a penalty halfway through double overtime and the Cougars ended the game.

With under a minute left at the end of the Grace penalty, Cougars defender Tamara McVannel had loads of time before rifling the puck over Roberts to win 2-1, completing the comeback.

In the loss, Roberts made 41 saves, a season-high.

"You know when you have a player like that on the team, she has been our best player all year and not being able to win games is hard on the goalie," said Goyette on the play of Roberts.

"Yes she can stop everything most of the time, but she can't score goals."

The two teams will reunite for a matinee affair at 3 p.m.

Photo by David Moll