Justin Mackenzie, Dinos Communications

CALGARY - A matinee affair saw yet another sweep of the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team, this time at the hands of the University of Manitoba Bisons, in a 3-2 final at the Father David Bauer Arena on Saturday.

It took three minutes of play to pass before the first shot of the game was even registered. That first shot however, proved to be effective as the Dinos opened the scoring.
Chelsea Court found some space in the high slot and potted her first goal of the season over the left shoulder of Erin Fargey to put the Dinos out to a 1-0 lead. The goal was Court's first of the season.

A Dinos slashing penalty midway through the first gave Manitoba a chance to score on a weak Dinos penalty kill. Halfway through the power play the Bisons would get their equalizer as Jordyn Zacharias wristed a shot past Dinos netminder Kira Wasylak after being left all alone in front of the Dinos cage.

The second frame didn't see much action between the two sides other than a shorthanded goal off a breakaway from Lauryn Keen, rocketing one past the glove of Wasylak. Keen had four goals on the weekend after a hat-trick in last nights game.

The Dinos couldn't find much life in the second other than a chance towards the end of the period that saw a two on one, which was just missed by Diane Hitchings in an attempt to bring the game back even.

Despite a couple solid saves from Wasylyk from Manitoba odd-man rushes, the Bisons were finally able to solve her in the third.

On a breakaway, Kaitlyn Chatyrbok beat Wasylak on the stick-sde, scoring her first career USPORTS goal in the process.

It didn't take long for Calgary to close the gap as Carley Wlad found twine in the top right corner with five minutes left in regulation to pick up her first point of the season, making it a 3-2 game.

The Dinos pulled Wayslak, pushing for a tying goal, but it was to no avail as the Bisons hung on for a 3-2 decision.

"I thought we started quite strong" said Dinos assistant coach Alli Goodman, on her teams efforts on Saturday. "Unfortunately we took some penalties and they capitalized."
 
The Dinos aren't quite done the first half of the year as they will head to Edmonton on Sunday for a make-up game with the Alberta Pandas. The Bisons however will head into the winter break after a solid start to the season. Canada West play will resume on January 4, 2019.

Photo by David Moll