Box Score Lethbridge - The Mount Royal University Cougars edged the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns 3-2, Friday night, in the first half of a home-and-home series.
Cody Cartier led the charge for Mount Royal, netting two goals on the night, while David Stephens added an individual marker in between.David McMullen and Brandon Clowes answered for the Pronghorns.
In net for Lethbridge was Warren Shymko, who faced a total of 37 shots on the night in his first start as a Pronghorn, at the other end Dalyn Flette went on to stop all but two of the 31 shots he faced in the Cougars' crease.
Having won three of their last four match-ups, the Lethbridge Pronghorns were looking to add another big win, Friday night. Both teams looked strong offensively in the opening minutes of play and with the Mount Royal's Tyler Jewitt called for hooking, at 6:22, the Pronghorns' power play unit took to the ice and looked to make the most of an early opportunity. Manny Gialedakis snapped off a quick shot from inside the circle but confidently gloved it down Flette to neutralize the streaking centre.
Mitch Chagnon and Connor Collett answered right back for the Cougars with a great two-on-one opportunity, down low, but Lethbridge's Ryan Aasman managed to disrupt the play, getting his stick on the puck and forcing the forwards out of scoring territory.
The penalties continued throughout the opening period, which set a precedent for the rest of the game. Emerson Hrynyk was called for boarding at 12:51, which meant Lethbridge would have yet another chance with a man advantage.
McMullen net the first goal of the game, on the power play. A succession of smart plays and well-timed drop passes in front of the net left Flette out of position and the third-year defender found himself in prime position in front of the net where he corralled the loose puck and unloaded a fast high wrister into a wide open net, his second of the year.
Shots through one were deadlocked 11-11 and the opening half of the second period saw both teams exchange a number of penalties and solid scoring chances but neither would manage to capitalize until after the halfway mark.
Cartier scored first for Mount Royal, with six minutes left to play in the second. His low shot snuck in, low blocker side, past an unsuspecting Shymko. Riding the momentum of Cartier's equalizing goal, Stephens quickly gave the Cougars their first lead, less than a minute later.
Clowes knotted things back up for the 'Horns early in the third with a great effort, from Ryon Moser, that found the back of the net short glove-side.
Cartier answered back with his second of the night and eventual game winner. Coming in off the side boards, Mount Royal's leading scorer let a wrister go high blocker-side that would sneak in under the crossbar to re-establish his team's lead.
Shymko made a series of great stops in the final few minutes of play, shutting down great scoring chances by Tyler Fiddler and Matthew Brown, each looking for an insurance goal before the whistle.
With the goalie pulled for the final 1:18 of the third, the 'Horns did mange some sustained zone time, but could not find the equalizer.
With one half of the home-and-home series still left to play, Mount Royal's win puts them at 8-5-0 (CW) on the season, while Lethbridge sits at 3-10-0 (CW). The puck drops at 7pm for game two of the weekend series, tomorrow night, at Centennial Arena.
