Written By: Daniel Herrick, U of Saskatchewan Sports Information 

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies defended a late offensive push by the University of Manitoba Bisons women's hockey team to secure a 3-2 victory Friday, October 11 night in Saskatoon's Rutherford Rink.

Cassandra Jorgenson's game winner on the power play at 7:52 of the third period would stand up to be the game winner.  The Huskies were unsuccessful on the 5-on-3 power play, but Jorgenson capitalized while Saskatchewan still had a one-man advantage. 

The Bisons controlled the puck in the Huskies zone for the latter part of the final period, but could not beat Huskie goaltender Cassidy Hendricks. Despite taking six penalties in the third, Manitoba remained on the attack and threw everything at the Huskies goal. Hendricks and the Saskatchewan defencemen were quick to clear away any rebound opportunities in the final minutes as the Bisons pushed for the equalizer.  

Kaitlin Willoughby scored two goals for Saskatchewan on the night. The first, at 8:52 of the first period, came off a cross-ice, blue line to blue line pass from defenseman Hanna McGillivray. Willoughby streaked down the right side and fired a shot just past the blocker of Bison goalie Dée-Ana Marion for the game's first goal.  Willoughby would score her second goal at 16:31 of the second period to even the game at two.

Manitoba generated plenty of offensive chances while short-handed on the night. Amy Lee capitalized on one such chance at 9:06 of the second period to give the Bisons a 2-1 lead. Lee scored on a rebound after a great individual effort by Maggie Litchfield-Medd who stole the puck from a pair of Huskies before skating in alone on Hendricks. Hendricks made the initial save but Lee was there for the rebound.

Brenley Anderson scored the Bisons first goal of the night at 16:42 of the first collecting her own rebound before beating Hendricks.

Hendricks made 25 saves on the night, while Marion turned aside 19 Saskatchewan shots.

The Huskies had plenty of opportunities on the power play, but finished the night just 1-for-11. The Bisons came up empty with the man advantage, going 0-for-2.

The two teams meet again Saturday, October 12 night at 7 p.m. MT in Rutherford Rink. 

Stats available at: http://www.leaguestat.com/canadawest/women/en/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1676