Box Score
Lethbridge – After being shut out the night before, the Lethbridge Pronghorns battled back from a goal down to earn a weekend split with the visiting Regina Cougars with a 3-2 regulation win.
Regina scored the only goal in a 1-0 shutout win Friday night and scored the lone goal in the first period tonight, but the Pronghorns scored once in the second and then twice in the third to earn a much needed three points. The win improves the Pronghorns record to 5-7-1-1.
The Cougars record drops back below the 500 mark at 6-7-0-1.
"A great response from the team after Friday night's performance," said Pronghorn head coach Michelle Janus. "We made much better decisions with the puck today and increased the speed on the attack."
"It was good to see Jessica (Lohues) play well in her first start this season, she deserved it after working so hard over the past two months in practice."
Denzelle Bourgeois, Tricia Van Vaerenbergh and Kyra Greig scored for the Pronghorns, while Jordan Kulbida and Tamara McVannel replied for Regina.
Making her first start of the season, Pronghorn goaltender Jessica Lohues was tested early but passed the early test stopping the first eight shots she faced, and finished the game with 28 saves to earn her first Canada West win.
For the Cougars Morgan Baker got the start in place of Friday night's starter Jane Kish and turned aside 27 Pronghorn shots.
After weathering an early Regina storm, first-year forward Alicia Perez had a point blank chance to open the scoring for the Pronghorns but her attempt was turned aside by Morgan Baker.
With just over three minutes remaining in the first period the Cougars opened the scoring. Jordan Kulbida collected a bouncing puck just outside the crease and pulled the puck around Lohues, banking a shot off the post and in for the only goal of the opening 20 minutes.
Regina upped the intensity to start the second period, hemming the Pronghorns in their own end for extended periods of time but the Pronghorns did a good job keeping the attack to the outside. When the Cougars did get the puck to the net, Lohues was there to make the save.
Lohues' best save came off the stick of Kulbida, who found herself all alone in the slot looking for her second of the game.
On their first power-play of the game, the Pronghorns were able to get some offensive zone time and momentum, however majority of their shots were from the outside.
Still riding the momentum after the power-play, the Pronghorns finally beat a Cougar goaltender to tie the game at one. Jodi Gentile's one-timer from the point was deflect by Denzelle Bourgeois and between the legs of Baker for her first Canada West goal.
Shots after the second favored the Cougars again but far closer than Friday night, 22-20.
With both teams not wanting to give up the go-ahead goal, the first half of the third period was a defensive battle and scoring chances were virtually non-existent for both teams.
Just past the halfway mark of the third, the Pronghorns took advantage of a neutral zone turnover, taking their first lead of the weekend. Katelyn Breitkreuz slid a puck across to a streaking Tricia Van Vaerenbergh, who made no mistake, picking the top corner over Baker's shoulder for her team-leading fourth of the season.
On an extended five-on-three power-play, the Pronghorns picked a much needed insurance marker with just under five minutes to play. First-year forward Kyra Greig picked up a rebound off Baker's pad and slid home her second of the season.
With a power-play of their own and the goalie pulled, the Regina Cougars cut the lead back to one with 1:50 remaining. Walking in from her point position, Tamara McVannel snapped a shot past Lohues, setting up a wild finish.
Desperately looking for the equalizer with the goalie pulled, Regina peppered Lohues in the final minute but she was able to turn aside point blank shots from Emma Waldenberger and Jaycee Magwood to seal the Pronghorns' victory.
The Pronghorns will close out the first semester of conference action next weekend with a home-and-home series with the Calgary Dinos, starting Friday night in Calgary. The Cougars will also compete in the home-and-home series with provincial rival Saskatchewan Huskies, which begins in Regina Friday night.
