Box Score
Lethbridge – It took extra time but a Kenra Finch goal in the fourth round of the shootout propelled the Regina Cougars to a weekend sweep of the Lethbridge Pronghorns with a 2-1 win.
Aislinn Kooistra scored the lone Pronghorn goal, while Tori Head replied for the Cougars.
Both teams started Friday night's back-up goalie and each of them was solid for their respective teams. 'Horns Shauntelle Williams turned aside 32 Cougar shots, while her counterpart Toni Ross was the busier of the two making 49 saves, including 19 in the third period.
Riding the momentum of Friday night's win the Cougars opened the game with some early pressure, controlling the play for the opening three minutes, but it would the Pronghorns with the first quality scoring chance. Lauren Fredrich squeezed between two Cougar defenders to gain a partial breakaway but her shot missed wide glove side.
Continuing to turn the tide on the Cougars, the 'Horns would finally gain their first lead of the weekend. Defender Glenda Edie stepped in and intercepted a Cougar clearing attempt, and while her shot was turned away by Toni Ross, freshman Aislinn Kooistra jumped on the rebound to notch her second of the season.
After opening the game on their heels, the 'Horns finished the period strong and held a 13 to 8 shot advantage at the end of 20 minutes.
While the middle stanza saw the play go back and forth with shots even at 10 apiece, the Cougars were able to capitalize during the second frame. Tori Head jumped on a juicy Shuantelle Williams rebound and roofed the puck glove side to tie the game at one.
With time winding down in the frame, Sadie Lenstra nearly put the 'Horns back ahead. Following her own rebound off the back boards, Lenstra slid the puck just past the open corner.
Looking for the decisive goal the teams' traded power play opportunities early in the third period but neither team could take advantage.
Following a successful penalty kill, the 'Horns ended up with an extended five-on-three power play but again they could not make the most of their opportunity setting up the need for extra time.
Early into the overtime period, Jenna-Marie Durnin sprung Megan Bailey on a partial break but her shot went high off the glass. The Pronghorns also had a rare power play in overtime and Bailey had the best chance to end the game coming off the bench to join the play late, but could not beat Ross.
Cougar Katelyn Kennedy nearly ended the game from behind the goal line when her centering pass hit the stick of Williams, but the netminder was able to close her pads just in time to keep the puck out and set up the shootout.
The win keeps the Cougars as the lone undefeated team in Canada West at 4-0-0, while the shootout loss moves the 'Horns record to 1-1-2 on the season.
The 'Horns will face the Calgary Dinos next weekend with a home-and-home series starting in Calgary Friday night, with the back half of the series going Saturday night in Lethbridge. For the Cougars, after playing two consecutive road weekends, they will finally hit home ice, hosting the UBC Thunderbirds for a pair of games.
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