WINNIPEG – Brenna Nicol's goal and Glory Plett's first U USPORTS point were not enough for the Bisons on Friday night, falling 2-1 in their first game of the weekend series against the Regina Cougars.
 
Regina Goaltender Natalie Williamson was crucial for the Cougars, making 22 saves out of the 23 shots she faced.
 
The win puts the Cougars just two points back of Manitoba for second in the standings, with 24 on the year. The rematch goes tomorrow at 4 pm.
 
Bisons leading goal scorer Norah Collins made an energetic full-ice skate past the Regina defencemen to earn the initial opportunity in the first period, but Williamson made the stop.
 
Emily Shippam answered, making a string of good saves to keep the Bisons level in the first half of the period. The Manitoba netminder made an impresasive stop after a pass intercepted by the Cougars left hem alone in front of the Bison's net early on.
 
Despite Shippam's efforts, Regina would find themselves on the scoreboard minutes later.
 
A speedy zone entry allowed Tessa Stewart to skate by the Manitoba defenceman, giving her time and space to shoot the puck bar-down for her third goal of the season.
 
The Bisons got their best chance of the period late in the first, as Rachel Gottfried found open ice in front of the Regina net, but Williamson made a big save to keep the Cougars up 1-0.
 
Opportunities came in droves for the Bisons in the second period, outshooting their opponents 12 to four, but they were unable to capitalize on their chances.
 
Early on in the period, Manitoba's leading scorer Aimee Patrick got a chance in front of the Regina net, but Williamson made an impressive blocker stop, a them of the period.
 
Minutes later a loose stick threw a Regina defencemen off-balance, giving an opportunity for Bisons captain Kylie Lesuk to put Manitoba on the board.  But after an intense pile up in front of the net, the puck would land in Williamson's glove. 
 
The Bisons, determined to capitalize shortly after on their second power play of the night, delivered shot after shot.
 
Gottfried got the best chance of the power play, firing past the Cougars defenseman to get herself alone in front of the Regina net, but Williamson would still not let anything past.
 
The action started quickly in the third period, as both sides made impressive plays.
 
After a slow Cougars change gave the Bisons open ice between them and the Regina net, Cougars defenceman Olivia Legget recovered quickly, making a crucial poke-check to prevent the Bisons' opportunity.
 
Manitoba came close mere seconds later however, as both Patrick's shot and Brenna Nicol's follow-up missed the net by mere inches.
 
Against the flow of play, an unusual goal scored by Regina's Paige Hubbard doubled the Cougars' lead.
 
After Shippam made an initial save, a funny follow-up shot rebounded off of Manitoba's crossbar. This caused Shippam to lose sight of the puck briefly and resulted in a ap-in for Hubbard.
 
The Bisons responded soon after however, finding the back of the net through Nicol.
 
An initial shot from Sophia Anderson rattled off of Williamson's cage, and Nicol was swift to pick up the rebound and force it over the line for her third goal of the season.
 
After setting up Anderson's shot, Bison's defenceman Glory Plett picked up her first U SPORTS point for Manitoba in a special moment.
 
The Bisons continued to push for the equalizer, who contained the Cougars in their zone for the rest of the game.
 
Despite the push, the score finished as is, with Regina picking up 2 crucial points for their playoff battle in the 2-1 win.