LETHBRIDGE – Nearing the midway point of the Canada West women's hockey schedule, the Lethbridge Pronghorns take on southern Alberta rival Mount Royal Cougars in a key home-and-home series prior to the semester break.
 
The weekend set will open in Calgary Friday night at the Flames Community Arena with the venue of the back half of the home-and-home series reverting to Nicholas Sheran Arena Saturday night. Puck drop for both games is slated for 7:00 p.m. Tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased online at https://uleth.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx. Both games will also be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
Entering the weekend the Cougars are two points ahead of the Pronghorns for sixth place in Canada West.
 
A look at the teams
 
The Pronghorns (3-7-0-2) enter the second to last weekend of the first semester on a four game losing streak after facing the top two Canada West teams in back-to-back weeks. They did however pick up a valuable point last Friday in a 1-0 shootout loss to the Alberta Pandas.
 
Statistically, the Pronghorns have scored the second fewest goals in Canada West with 14 and are tied for sixth in goals against, allowing 30 in 12 games.
 
One area the Pronghorns have been solid in this season in both specialty team departments. On the power play the team is ranked four at 12.8%, while the 'Horns penalty killing sits third in Canada West at 88.6%.
 
For the Cougars (4-7-0-1) the 2018-19 season has been a bit of a roller coaster. The Cougars earned an impressive win of the Alberta Pandas earlier in October but have split their last two series, including a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Dinos, which was the Dinos first win of the season.
 
Statistically, the Cougars sit fifth in goals for with 14, only three more than the Pronghorns but have allowed the exact same against with 30.
 
Despite being one of the lowest scoring teams in the conference, the Cougars have the top ranked power play and have scored more than half of their goals while on the power play.
 
Players to watch:
 
For the second time this season, Alicia Anderson set a new Canada West record for saves in a shutout. Last Friday, Anderson stopped all 46 shots she faced in regulation and overtime but ended up losing in a shootout 1-0. She made 41 saves in a shutout of the UBC in the season opening game in Vancouver to initial set the record.
 
Anderson is among the top goalies in all statistical categories this season, holding a 2.02 goals-against-average and a 0.941 save percentage while leading the conference with four shutouts.
 
Tricia Van Vaerenbergh leads the Pronghorns in scoring with five goals and two assists, but has not registered a point in the last five games.
 
First-year forward Breanne Trotter leads the Cougars in scoring and has had a hand in 10 of the Cougars 14 goals thus far. She also leads all Canada West freshman in scoring with four goals and six assists.
 
Zoe DeBeauville has played all but 40 minutes in the Cougars crease this season and holds a 2.10 goals-against average and a 0.912 save percentage.
 
Up Next:
 
The Pronghorns will host the third place UBC Thunderbirds next weekend to wrap up the first semester of conference action.