Connor Hood - Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics

EDMONTON - Third-year forward Brenna Mattiello sunk the Regina Cougars hopes of earning a point, scoring in the 90th minute as the Pandas earned a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon at Foote Field.

Karissa McNutt also scored for the Pandas, who improve to 5-1-1 following the dramatic win. The win also vaults the Pandas into sole possession of first place in the Prairie Division, following the Saskatchewan Huskies loss earlier in the day. Sally Bachmann scored the lone Cougars goal in the 43rd minute, as they remain winless in 2017, falling to 0-4-3. ​

​Coming off a three-win road trip, the Pandas looked the better team early in the first half. However, fourth-year Cougar goalie Ashton Lowry made three first half saves, including a pair by McNutt, keeping the game scoreless.

Despite the Pandas outshooting the Cougars 11-3 at half, it was the visitors who got on the board first. Brianna Wright's cross into the box snuck through the fingers of Panda keeper Cassie Bazzarelli, before Bachmann's shot just snuck over the goal line for her first of the season. The goal was just the second the Pandas had allowed all season, snapping their shutout streak at 220 minutes.

Trailing at half for the first time this season, the Pandas came out firing to start the second, as it took McNutt just seven minutes to level the match at one. Fourth-year forward Sydney Daines sent in a perfect cross from the edge of the box, right to the waiting foot of McNutt, who potted her third of the season.

The Pandas continued to press in the second half for the equalizer, but Lowry made a pair of incredible saves to keep the game level. Her first save of the year candidate came in the 70th minute, as she robbed Morgan Corbett from distance. Lowry made another incredible stop minutes later, robbing Nicole Palladino of a sure goal with a diving stop.

However, Lowry's luck would run out in the 90th minute, as Mattiello was able to chip the ball over the keeper in the box, tapping in the game-winner from inside the Cougar crease. With just two minutes of added time, the Pandas easily ran out the clock for their fifth win of the season.

The Pandas will remain at home tomorrow afternoon, as they host the 4-2-1 Saskatchewan Huskies at 2:00 p.m. Regina, meanwhile, will head down to Calgary for a match against the Mount Royal Cougars.