CALGARY — Fifth-years Alanna Sharman and Lauryn Keen combined for three goals, fourth-year Jordyn Zacharias potted an empty-netter, and it added up to some veteran mystique for the No. 4 ranked Manitoba Bisons on Saturday. The Herd beat the Mount Royal Cougars 4-1 to secure a weekend sweep at the Flames Community Arena.
The win heats up an already tight race for a first-round bye. Third-place UBC took three points off first-place Alberta this weekend, putting the Pandas just two points ahead of Manitoba in second. The Thunderbirds are five points back of the Bisons, with two head-to-head matchups coming late this season.
From the opening puck drop, the Cougars were rushing the Bisons net, but their play was quickly turned around by the Bisons defence.
That didn't last forever, though, as Mount Royal would notch the first marker of the game with five minutes left in the period. Camryn Amundson beat her defender, rifling a backhanded shot short side past Bisons goalie Lauren Taraschuk.
In the second, Manitoba rallied back thanks to their returning Canada West All-Star in forward Alanna Sharman. Sharman put a slapshot past Cougars goalie Emma Pincott to even the score at 14:03, her first goal of the season after missing the first half due to injury.
Sharman wasn't done there. Midway through the third period, she scored the game-winner with another high velocity slapshot, this one from the face-off circle. A screened Pincott had no hope, as Manitoba went back up 2-1.
Finally, Lauryn Keen got in on the action. Her team already on the penalty kill, she made a marvelous series of moves into the Mount Royal zone, dragging across Pincott to bury her tenth goal of the season.
With seconds remaining, Zacharias would add her empty-netter to give the game its final score.
Cougars' head coach Scott Rivett also gave a lot of credit to Taraschuk, who had 18 saves in the win.
"We made some great shots and had some great opportunities, but when she needed to, she made the saves that mattered to win."
Manitoba improves to 12-4-2-2 with the win, while the Cougars fall to 7-11-1-1. The Bisons will host the Regina Cougars next weekend, while Mount Royal heads to Alberta to play the No. 2 ranked Pandas.
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