LETHBRIDGE – For the third consecutive week, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women's hockey team faces a nationally ranked opponent, hosting the U SPORTS second ranked Manitoba Bisons to close out the home portion of the 2017-18 Canada West schedule.
 
The Pronghorns and Bisons will hit the ice at Nicholas Sheran Arena Friday night at 7:00pm and Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm. Both games will be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
Earlier this season, the Pronghorns dropped two close games to the Bisons in Winnipeg, losing 1-0 and 2-1.
 
A Look at the Teams:
 
With only four games remaining in the Canada West schedule, the Pronghorns (3-16-2-3) haven't been mathematically eliminated from post-season contention but face a daunting task, sitting seven points out.
 
Goal scoring has hampered the Pronghorns all season, scoring the second fewest goals in Canada West with 25 and they were shutout both games last weekend in Edmonton. The Pronghorns have been shutout nine times this season and haven't scored more than two goals in any of their last 10 games.
 
Despite their offensive woes, the Pronghorns have been solid defensively, only allowing four goals once this season and only allowed three goals against last weekend in two games.
 
The Bisons (16-5-2-1) are in a battle for top spot in Canada West, leading the Alberta Pandas by only three points for first place and the UBC Thunderbirds and Saskatchewan Huskies are only five points back.
 
Entering the weekend, the Bisons have won five straight games and are tied with the Thunderbirds for the second most goals scored in Canada West with 53. The Bisons have also only allowed 37 goals against, the third fewest.
 
Player to Watch:
 
Rookies Alli Borrow and Kyra Greig are tied for the Pronghorns lead in goals with five. Borrow is also tied for the team lead in points with eight.
 
Kaitlyn Breitkreuz also has eight points, including seven assists.
 
Alicia Anderson has started 22 of 24 games this season in the Pronghorns crease and leads Canada West in total saves with 741. She also sports a 1.65 goals-against average and a 0.951 save percentage.
 
For the Bisons, four players sit among the top 15 Canada West scorers but are led by Jordyn Zacharias. Zacharias is tied for fifth in Canada West scoring with 10 goals and five assists.
 
Alanna Sharman is second on the Bisons and seventh in Canada West scoring with three goals and 11 assists.
 
In the crease, the Bisons have split duties with Lauren Taraschuk and Rachel Dyck but Taraschuk has the far superior numbers. Tataschuk is tied for the best goals-against average of 0.78 in 11 appearances this season with four shutouts. Dyck holds a 1.90 goals-against average.
 
Up Next:
 
The Pronghorns will close out the Canada West season next weekend on the road, traveling to Regina to face the Regina Cougars.