Box Score WINNIPEG- On Friday night, the University of Manitoba Bisons women's hockey team welcomed the Saskatchewan Huskies to the Wayne Fleming Arena for the first of a two-game weekend series between the two sides. 
 
Third-year forward Molly Kunnas scored with 13:24 left in the game, putting Manitoba in front by two goals at 3-1. Sam Sichkaruk muscled her way to the front of the net with the puck before it popped loose to Kunnas in slot who beat Camryn Drever for her fourth goal of the year. Despite the Huskies answering just 26 seconds later, Kunnas' goal stood as the game-winner as the Bisons captured their sixth win of the season and fourth in a row. 
 
First-year Bisons goaltender Emily Shippam, fresh off her first career U SPORTS win over MacEwan last weekend, stopped 32 of the 34 shots she faced to add her first win on home ice.
 
"She has been such a good teammate and is really finding her way," expressed Bisons assistant captain Chloe Snaith, speaking about Shippam. "It is amazing to see her confidence continue to grow in each game that she plays. She held us in there today. It so great to have a goalie that can stand up in those situations. It makes so happy to see her starting to flourish in her role."
 
The first period was filled with high-danger scoring chances from the Bisons but it took until the final minute to break the game open with their first of the night. With 55 seconds left on the clock, Manitoba's Jessie Haner shoved home her second of the season after a scramble in front of the Huskie crease. Prior to Haner's tally, Kate Gregoire had a nose for the net throughout the opening frame but could not solve the Saskatchewan goalie Drever. The Herd mustered 11 shots in the opening 20-minutes while the visitors were right behind with eight. 
 
The hosts extended their lead to 2-0 after Gregoire capitalized on a penalty shot opportunity at the 13:54 mark of the second period. Gregoire was hauled down by a Huskies defender while on a clear breakaway and proceed to sneak the puck threw the five hole of Drever on the penalty shot for her sixth of the campaign.

Shippam was the story for the Bisons in the period, recording 15 saves including a sliding right pad stop on shot in tight to keep the game at 1-0 prior to the Gregoire goal. However, the Huskies cut the lead to 2-1 on a late power play that saw Sophie Lalor finally beat Shippam. 
 
Up 2-1 in the third, Kunnas added her tally to restore the Bisons two-goal advantage at 3-1. Saskatchewan answered with their second of the game just 26 seconds later to once again cut Manitoba's lead back down to just one. The Huskies pushed hard for the reminder of the period including with their goalie pulled late but weren't able to solve Shippam, who finished the game with 32 saves as the Bisons clinched the 3-2 victory. 
 
"We have put a lot of focus on making sure we start on time," added Snaith. "You saw it tonight, right from the get go, we were on it, competing and that really contributed to our win today. The confidence from today's win should really help us get started tomorrow."
 
The Huskies and Bisons return to the ice again tomorrow at 2 p.m. for the second and final game of the weekend.