Box Score
Calgary, AB - Backstopped by the strong goaltending of Kendall Kilgour, the Mount Royal University Cougars beat the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns 2-1 in a shootout Friday for their first home win in Canada West women’s hockey.

Kilgour stopped both shootout attempts she faced and earlier made two big pad saves from close range during the 10 minute, four-on-four overtime as the Cougars improved to 5-4-2. The Pronghorns drop to 4-5-2.

Emily Harrison scored for the Cougars in regulation time and along with Chrissy Hodgson also scored in the shootout.

Chelsea Minor had Lethbridge’s regulation time goal. Sarah Spence and Amy Van Buskirk both were unsuccessful on deke attempts in the shootout for Lethbridge.

“They are two evenly matched teams across the board. There was not a lot of scoring opportunities on either side. Their goalie played well and ours did as well,” Cougars head coach Scott Rivett.

“It was nice to get our first win at home. It’s been a tough time for us here, for whatever reason.”

Kilgour made 26 saves. Pronghorns goalie Chrystal Patterson, who is from Calgary, stopped 29 shots.

The Cougars were 0-3-1 at Flames Community Arenas entering the game and are 4-1-1 away from home. They will put that road success to the test Saturday when the teams meet in Lethbridge at 7 p.m.

Harrison opened the scoring Friday by jamming the puck past Patterson during a scramble at 11:18 of the first period.

The best chance for either team in the second period came within the first four minutes when Kilgour stopped Janae Culp on a breakaway.

The Pronghorns came up empty on a four-minute power play that was the result of a double roughing minor to defenceman Shyla Stadnicki.

The Pronghorns broke through when Minor, another Calgary native, jammed a loose puck in the net 3:47 into third period when a rebound wasn’t cleared from the crease.

The Cougars had to kill 58 seconds of a two-man disadvantage late in the third when Megan Bailey was called for hitting from behind with 5:21 remaining. Sarah Weininger was already in the box for a body checking call with 6:23 on the clock.

“The penalty kill did a great job late there to give us an pportunity. The girls really stepped up,” Rivett said.

-MRU-