Calgary – The Mount Royal Cougars fell 3-2 in overtime to the Manitoba Bisons women's hockey team tonight (Sat., Jan. 11) at the Flames Community Arenas.  Michelle Pawluk, Meagan Vestby and Kyleigh Palmer (OT winner) notched goals for the Bisons. TaraLynn Suzuki and Shyla Stadnicki scored for the Cougars.

The Cougars left off where they started from last night's dramatic shootout win. Six minutes in TaraLynn Suzuki scored the game's opening goal on a set up from her line mates Harrison and Dawson. The Cougars dominated the pace for much of the period and outshot the Bisons early. As the first was winding down the Cougars took a penalty for checking to the head. Just over thirty seconds into the man advantage, Manitoba made them pay. Michelle Pawluk shovelled in a loose puck and knotted the game at one heading into the intermission.

The Bisons took the lead early in the second period. Less than two minutes into the second Meagan Vestby beat Jess Ross on a quick wrist shot to give Manitoba their first lead of the night. The game then intensified and the physical play started to pick up. Manitoba was called for an aggressive boarding penalty but the Cougar's power play struggles continued. The period concluded with the Bisons leading the Cougars 2-1.

Manitoba outshot the Cougars 18-15 in the first two periods but it was Mount Royal who controlled the game in the third. The Cougars continually skated through the Bisons checking and Manitoba was forced to haul them down. On a late power play the Cougars finally broke through and scored on the man advantage.  Shyla Stadnicki let go a seeing eye shot from the point that beat the Bison's net minder to tie the game. The final buzzer sounded and for the second time in two nights the Cougars and Bisons would need extra time.

The Cougars got another power play early in the overtime frame. They worked the puck around nicely and had a number of scoring chances but could not bury the puck. Shortly after the penalty concluded Kyleigh Palmer of the Bisons was allowed to walk right into the slot where she unleashed a laser under the blocker of Ross to win it for Manitoba.

With the loss Mount Royal falls to 3-14-3. Manitoba's win brings them to a record of 12-5-3.

The Bisons will return home where they will host the Calgary Dinos for two games next weekend on Friday and Saturday evening. The Cougars will remain at home next weekend when Regina comes to town for two dates on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.