Schmidt made 36 saves in the Cougars net. Kylie Gavelin and Stephanie Sawchuk each scored power play goals for the visitors, who went 2-for-2 with the man advantage on the afternoon.

Manitoba finished 0-for-3 on the power play in the evening. They got a 27-save performance from first year goaltender Amanda Schubert.

"We played into their game plan," said Bisons head coach Jon Rempel. "They checked us into the ground. We got away from trying to get pucks deep and below their goal line. We started going off our page and were trying to be individuals."

The Bisons out-shot Regina 21-5 in the opening frame but Gavelin scored 34 seconds into the Cougars first power play chance of the game to give the visitors a lead at 13:01, one that would hold up for the rest of the game. Sawchuk and Brooklyn Moskowy drew assists on the goal.

Manitoba best chance in the opening period came in the final minute. Kyleigh Palmer dropped a pass for Maggie Litchfield-Medd in the slot. Her wrist shot beat Schmidt but rang off the inside post and the Cougars remained in front by one.

After a scoreless second, the Bisons took a penalty after being caught with six skaters on the ice. In the opening moments of the power play, Sawchuk hit a rebound past Schubert to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Gavelin and Moskowy each assisted on the goal for their second points of the night.

From there, the Cougars turned it over to Schmidt, who made some great saves down the stretch to keep Regina in control. She made an impressive sequence of saves on Michelle Pawluk and Amy Lee in front of her crease on a Manitoba power play to help ice the victory for Regina.

The Cougars have an opportunity to advance to the Canada West semi-final with a win in Game 2 of the series tomorrow afternoon. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. CT at the Wayne Fleming Arena (U of M campus).