WINNIPEG – Two weeks ago to the day, Bisons forward Kate Gregoire was robbed of a game-tying goal late in a game against the Regina Cougars. With a similar opportunity Friday night at the Wayne Fleming Arena against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, Gregoire made no mistake.
With 2:52 left on the clock in the third period, the first-year Bison scored the game-winning goal off a pass from Jenai Buchanan to give Manitoba the win.
The Bisons, who have had a tough time in tight games this season, improved their record to 4-10-0-1.
"During close games in the past we have got away from the way we want to play," commented Bisons head coach Jon Rempel. "Today we stayed connected as a group and didn't deviate from our game plan. I believe that is what made us successful tonight."
The loss drops the Pronghorns below .500 with a record of 6-7-1-1. Goaltender Alicia Anderson stopped 24 of the 26 shots she faced in the loss.
After a scoreless opening period, it was the visiting Pronghorns who drew first blood just over three minutes into the second frame. Lethbridge forward Kyra Greig fed a pass cross-ice to Allison Borrow who placed her shot perfectly over the blocker of Schubert. In response, Manitoba captain Jordyn Zacharias generated two glorious scoring chances later in the second period as the Bisons began to find their game in the offensive zone. Unfortunately for Zacharias, a Pronghorns stick got in the way of a wide open net and deflected the puck over the glass. Late in the period Anderson, keeping the game at 1-0 for the visitors, stopped Zacharias again on a partial breakaway.
Early in the final period, Mekaela Fisher got Manitoba on the board to tie the game at 1-1. The Bisons' Camryn Gillis threw the puck in front of the net before chaos ensued and eventually Fisher buried the loose puck. Looking for her second goal of the night, Borrow was stymied by Schubert in the latter half of the third. Moments later Anderson came up with another big stop on Zacharias to keep the game tied.
With time winding down in the third, Gregoire broke the tie with her first goal of the season to give her Bisons squad the lead. Fisher added her second goal of the night on an empty net to seal the victory for Manitoba.
The two teams will be in action again tomorrow at the Wayne Fleming Arena starting at 2 pm local time.
