CALGARY – The Mount Royal University Cougars' offence exploded on Friday night with an 8-3 victory over the University of Calgary Dinos at Father David Bauer Arena.

The Cougars netted four goals in the third period to put an exclamation point on the first edition of the Crowchild Classic this season. The contest was also a rematch of the 2020 Canada West Semifinal, where Mount Royal came from behind to beat Calgary in three games.

"The first [period] was really good, to come out of that period even was exciting, and put us in a good spot," Dinos head coach Carla MacLeod mentioned after the game. "The rhythm changed [in the second], with all the penalties called, that offset us, and we never really found our stride again after that."

The Cougars opened the scoring early in the first period as Aliya Jomha faked and slid the puck past a sprawled out Gabriella Durante. Courtney Kollman doubled the Cougars' lead one minute later when she weaved her way through the defence and beat Durante on a backhand attempt.

Elizabeth Lang cut the lead in half mid-way through the frame. The Dinos sniper picked up a cross-ice feed from Rachel Paul and went backhand to forehand past Zoe DeBeauville. With three minutes remaining in the period, Alli Borrow brought the puck out from the corner and fired a perfect shot through a crowd of bodies to even the score.

Calgary was called for having six players on the ice in the opening minute of the second period and the Cougars capitalized on the opportunity. Anna Purschke one-timed a rebound past Durante to restore the Mount Royal lead. The Cougars restored their two-goal advantage with five minutes remaining in the middle frame when Mackenzie Bust fired a shot from the blue line past Durante near the end of an extended power play.

Tianna Ko, Taylor Sawka, Courtney Kollman, and Emma Bergesen all found the back of the net for Mount Royal in the final frame. Holly Reuther had the only response for the Dinos with a shorthanded goal sandwiched between Mount Royal tallies.

"Sometimes you get these results, [Mount Royal] played well. We'll come back to the rink with confidence, it is another opportunity and a fresh start," MacLeod said in response to tomorrow's game.

The Dinos will look for revenge in Saturday's rematch, puck drop is set for 6 p.m. at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex at Tsuut'ina Nation.