Box Score REGINA, Sask. – Breanna Frasca’s goal off a deflection late in the third period gave the University of Lethbridge a 4-3 victory over the Regina Cougars on Saturday night in Canada West women’s hockey at The Co-operators Centre.
It looked like the teams might be headed to overtime for the second consecutive night, but Frasca redirected a point shot from Amy Van Buskirk with just over two minutes left in regulation to give Lethbridge (1-2-1) its first conference victory of the season.
Boxscore
Sarah Spence got Lethbridge on the board in the second period, while Kirsten Reeves scored both of the other goals for the Pronghorns. Crystal Patterson made 24 saves for Lethbridge in the victory.
For the Cougars, Rianne Wight scored a pair and Paige Wheeler added a power play marker.
Wight opened the scoring early in the first period after forcing a turnover near the right faceoff circle. Her quick shot beat Patterson to the five hole, notching the only goal of the opening 20 minutes.
Wheeler added to the Cougar lead early in the second. Brooklyn Moskowy’s initial shot was saved by Patterson, and after several attempts Wheeler was finally able to corral the loose puck and score her first of the season.
Van Buskirk also drew an assist on Lethbridge’s first goal, which came midway through the middle frame. Her shot from the top of the left circle was saved by Regina goalie Jennifer Schmidt, but Chelsea Minor got the rebound and dished it over to Spence, who buried it for her first of the campaign. The visitors tied the contest at 2-2 four minutes later, as Reeves attempted a wraparound and was able to beat Schmidt with a nice second effort.
The score stayed tied at two apiece until the 12-minute mark of the third period, when Wight took a nice pass from Stephanie Sawchuk on a 2-on-1 and buried her second of the game. Laura Olsen drew the second assist on the goal.
But it was a short-lived lead for Regina. Reeves scored just 16 seconds after Wight’s goal, as she came in on the right side and roofed a shot to pull Lethbridge even. Frasca’s game-winning goal came with 2:18 left in regulation.
Regina ended up with a 27-25 edge in shots, while both teams were 1-for-3 on the power play.
The Cougars (2-2-0) hit the road next weekend for a pair of games against No. 1-ranked Calgary, while Lethbridge will host UBC.
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