LETHBRIDGE – Scoring goals in quick succession in both the first and second half, the Mount Royal Cougars kept the Lethbridge Pronghorns off balance for much of the game enroute to a season opening win, 6-2 at the University Community Stadium in Lethbridge.
 
Mount Royal scored goals in the sixth and 26^th minutes of the opening half and then scored three goals in a seven-minute span of the second half after the Pronghorns had tied the game at two.
 
Catriona McFadden and Isabella Chirico each scored twice for the Cougars, while Bethany Middlemass and Sydney Danielewicz each picked up singles. Kaleigh Harris and Hailey Slobodian picked up the Pronghorns goals.
 
Cougars opened the scoring in the 6^th minute. Sydney Danielewicz crossed the ball back into the box finding Bethany Middlemass, who made no mistake picking the left side of the net to score the first goal of the 2022-23 season
 
The Cougars continued to control the pace and possession for majority of the opening of the first half and were rewarded again in the 26^th minute, doubling the lead. Turning over the ball in the middle of the field, Middlemass chipped the ball into space and Catriona McFadden was able beat Pronghorn defenders to the ball and chip the ball over a charging Bridie Harding.
 
Following the Cougars second goal the Pronghorns were able to push forward and spend time in the Cougars side of the field. Forcing a turnover just outside the Cougars penalty area, newcomer Alexis Bradford slide the ball across to fourth-year forward Kaleigh Harris and Harris beat Torrance Langdon far side to cut the Cougars lead to 2-1.
 
At the break, the Cougars held a 12-3 advantage in shot attempts and Pronghorn keeper Bridie Harding kept the Pronghorns in the game, making seven saves in the half.
 
After a tentative start to the second half, the Pronghorns had the first quality chance of the second half. Freshman Rebecca McBride had a good look from inside the penalty area but Langdon was on task to make her first save of the game.
 
Only minutes later, the Pronghorns knotted the score at two. Hailey Slobodian collected a pass from Kiandra Boulter and slide a shot low past Langdon for her first of the season.
 
Responding almost immediately after the Pronghorns tied the score, Forward Sydney Danielewicz regained the Cougar one goal advantage, beating a pair of Pronghorn defenders and keeper Harding in 59^th minute.
 
Less than four minutes later Mount Royal was back on the attack and McFadden picked up her second goal of the game and give the Cougars their second two goal lead of the game.
 
Mount Royals' offensive pressure continued to put the Pronghorns on the heels and catching Pronghorn keeper off her line, Isabella Chirico floated a shot from 30 yards out over the head of Harding for the Cougars fifth goal of the game.
 
Chirico scored again the 72^nd minute to round out the scoring.
 
The Pronghorns and Cougars will square off again on Wednesday in Calgary. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00pm on Mount Royal University campus.