U of R Sports Information
REGINA – Ireland South's powerplay goal midway through the third period was the difference maker on Friday night, as the University of Regina women's hockey team outlasted the Calgary Dinos for a 2-1 win at The Co-operators Centre.
The Cougars improve to 8-12-2-3 with the regulation win, keeping an eye on Mount Royal with hopes of moving into fifth place in the Canada West standings.
Emma Waldenberger also found the net for the Cougars, scoring her ninth of the season on the powerplay in the first period. Calgary's goal also came on special teams, as Weyburn product Delaney Frey scored with the man advantage late in the opening frame.
Jane Kish was the winning netminder, making 15 saves between the pipes for the Cougars. Kelsey Roberts made 30 stops for the Dinos, who drop to 4-17-1-3.
Waldenberger's goal came at the 12:39 mark of the first period, after a Tamara McVannel point shot was deflected by South. Roberts was able to adjust and make the save, but Waldenberger was positioned well in front and scooped it into the net to open the scoring.
Frey's goal came five minutes later as she took a feed in the slot and lost her footing, but was able to shovel the puck through traffic and past Kish for her team-leading fifth goal. Dana Wood and Laine Grace both picked up assists on the powerplay marker.
After a scoreless second period, in which the Cougars outshot Calgary 14-2, the deciding goal was scored with 8:48 left on the clock. Frey was whistled for a bodychecking penalty, sending the home team to the powerplay where they finished the night two-for-four. It only took 20 seconds for the Cougars to capitalize, as McVannel dumped the puck into the corner where Waldenberger came away with it. The Cougar captain tried to put a shot on goal but it was deflected by a Calgary defender right onto the tape of South who slipped it home for her fourth goal of the campaign.
The Dinos worked hard to find the equalizer, sending eight shots at Kish in the final frame. The fourth-year goaltender was up to the challenge, making a couple of big stops in the dying minutes including a pad save on a Dino four-on-one break.
The Cougars have now won all three games against Calgary this season by a score of 2-1, and will go for the season sweep on Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. at The Co-operators Centre.