Written by: Justin McCaffrey, Mount Royal Sports Information

Calgary – The Mount Royal Cougars women's hockey team defeated the Manitoba Bisons 4-3 in a shootout, tonight (Fri., Jan. 10) at the Flames Community Arenas. Maggie Litchfield-Medd, Kyleigh Palmer and Kayliegh Wiens notched goals for the Bisons. Emily Harrison, Sarah Weninger and Janessa Jenkins scored for the Cougars. Sydney Laurin scored the lone goal in the shooutout to win it for the Cougars.

It was the not the start the Cougars were looking for as Maggie Litchfield-Medd of the Bisons grabbed the puck in the neutral zone, danced around the last defender and roofed it just a minute and a half into the game. At the half way mark of the period the Bisons struck again when Kyleigh Palmer made a great individual effort and score to make it 2-0 Manitoba. The Cougars kept skating and earned themselves a 5 on 3 but it was Manitoba who had the best scoring chance on a breakaway. Luckily for the Cougars Jess Ross stood tall and kept the score 2-0.

The Cougars came out to play in the second period as their hustle was rewarded drawing a penalty on the Bisons. With the power play coming to an end Emily Harrison, the team's leading scorer, picked up the puck on her forehand a ripped a laser top corner to put the Cougars within one. Kayleigh Wiens scored to restore the Bisons two goal lead and that is how it would stand at the end of period number two.

Mount Royal came at the Bisons hard in the third period. After taking a penalty the Cougars weathered the Bisons onslaught and came away with a goal. Sarah Weninger stole the puck from the Bison's attacker and broke in one on one with the defender. She went inside out on the defender and then slid the puck through the goaltender's legs. Trailing 3-2 the Cougars were all over the Bisons with ten minutes to play. The pressure paid off, with 5:15 left, a scramble in front of the net put the puck on the stick of Janessa Jenkins who scored with two defenders on her back to send the game to overtime.

The Cougars entered overtime with a man advantage but could not convert. The play went end to end but neither team could bury the puck. The Cougars took a penalty with just under four minutes to play. Kat McDonald had the best scoring chance on a beautiful individual effort but just missed the empty cage as she fell. Jess Ross stepped up and made a big save on a partial break to send it a shootout.

Sidney Lauren kicked off the shootout with a nice one-handed goal, reminiscent of Peter Forsberg in Lillehammer. It was the only goal to find the net and proved to be the game winner. Jess Ross made all three stops and the Cougars won their first home game of the season.

Mount Royal improves to 3-14-2 with the win while the Bisons fall to 11-5-3.

The Cougars and Bisons will have a quick turnaround and play tomorrow afternoon at the Flames Community Arenas. Puck drop is slated for 3 p.m (MT).