Lethbridge – Facing off in their final contest of the 2014/15 regular season, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns held on for a close 1-0 victory against the Mount Royal Cougars, Saturday night.
Angela Burke scored the lone goal for Lethbridge.
In net for the Lethbridge was Crystal Patterson, who turned aside all 26 shots she faced to earn a well-deserved shut-out in her final game in a Pronghorn uniform. She finishes her Pronghorn career as the Canada West all-time leader in minutes played with 6857 minutes.
Emma Pincott got the start for Mount Royal and faced 16 shots in the opening thirty minutes of play, prior to being relieved midway through the second period by Megan Parkyn, who would face a total of ten shots on the night.
Carley Bertram got things going for the Cougars and put a shot on net in the opening minutes of play. Jordan Finnie tried to get her stick on the rebound but Patterson was in position to make the stop.
Burke net the game's first and only goal at 7:37. Chelsea Minor skated hard through the slot and put a good wrister on target. Having carved out space in front of the net, the fifth-year forward managed to get a piece of the puck and put it over the line for an early 1-0 lead.
Brittney Sawyer and Aislinn Kooistra each had good scoring chances for the 'Horns late in the opening period, as did Kirsten Reeves, whose solid off-angle effort was on target but Pincott made the stop.
Outshot by the Pronghorns 16-6 through one, the Cougars looked to bounce back in the second. Two great efforts by Cougars captain Tanika Dawson on the doorstep almost had Patterson beat but the veteran netminder stood tall to shut the door.
Devonie Deschamps unloaded a hard wrist shot from just inside the blue line but Patterson stayed with it and kicked it wide.
Janessa Jenkins came flying into 'Horns territory with speed but was unable to maintain control after out-manoeuvring a Lethbridge defender, and crashed into the net alongside Patterson.
The Cougars put the puck on net from all angles as time expired in the third, eagerly looking to knot things up but the 'Horns fought hard in the defensive zone and held them off.
With this win, the 'Horns conclude the regular season with a 6-21-1 record, while Mount Royal sits at 6-17-4.