Kayla Wurzer, Pronghorn Athletics

LETHBRIDGE - Following a loss last night in Calgary in the front half of the home-and-home series, home ice didn't treat the Lethbridge Pronghorn any better, falling in a heartbreaking 1-0 to the Mount Royal Cougars in Canada West women's hockey action.  

Over the course of the weekend, Alicia Anderson of the Pronghorns saw a total of 59 shots and as always gave the Pronghorns a chance to win. At the other end Zoe DeBeauville turned aside 29 shots to earn her first shutout of the season. 

The loss drops the Pronghorns record to 3-9-0-2 on the season and fall seven points behind the Cougars. The Cougars improve to 6-7-0 and are now tied with Regina for fifth place in the conference.

Neither the Cougars nor the Horns were able to open the scoring for the game in the first 20 minutes after consistent back and forth play. After a full two minutes of complete Pronghorn offence, an early time out by the Cougars resulted in the first real scoring opportunity of the game for either team. The breakaway shot hit the crossbar and then was quickly covered by Alicia Anderson. 

The second period saw chances for both teams but Anderson and Beauville remained solid. Specifically Alicia Anderson with a memorable glove save in the last two minutes of play, which easily could have resulted in a momentum shift in favour of the Cougars. The shots on goal after the period favoured the Cougars 23 to 15. 

Pronghorn Kirana Stocker opened the third period with a beautiful shot but Beauville proved to be too quick for the defensemen. 

Both teams continued to battle for the game's elusive first goal but with 8:01 remaining in the third, Megan Carver of the Cougars found the back of the net, sliding one just above the blocker of Anderson, which proved to be the only goal the Cougars would need. 

With a 1:11 remaining the Pronghorns found themselves on the first power play of the game and a glorious change to knot the game. However their efforts to tie the game went for naught despite numerous scoring chances.  

The Pronghorns will remain home to close out the first semester of Canada West action, hosting the UBC Thunderbirds for a pair of games. The Cougars closeout the first half hosing the Regina Cougars in a battle for fifth place.

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Photo by: MPP Photography