WINNIPEG – Rebecca Clarke's third-period goal stood as the game-winner as the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team defeated the Manitoba Bisons 3-2 on Friday night at Wayne Fleming Arena.

The Dinos came into the weekend with a three-point edge on the Bisons in the battle for a post-season berth. The win not only puts Calgary five points ahead of Manitoba, they also moved into fourth place ahead of the Saskatchewan Huskies, who were idle on Friday, and the Trinity Western Spartans.

With the game tied at 2-2 and the Dinos yet to have a lead in the game, Clarke squeaked a shot through Bisons goaltender Kimmy Davidson at 6:52 of the final frame. 

With the loss, Saturday's rematch game against Calgary will be even more crucial as Manitoba fights to remain in the conference playoff picture, currently sitting in seventh. 

Second-year forward Jena Barscello needed only 5:21 to get the scoring started in the game. Streaming up the left side of the ice, Barscello placed her shot perfectly in the top right corner of the net and over the glove of Calgary's goaltender Gabriella Durante, giving Manitoba the early 1-0 edge. However, 90 seconds later after a Kate Gregoire took a roughing penalty, the Dinos answered with a power play goal by Brette Kerley to tie the game at 1-1. Despite the early goals from both sides, sustained offence was hard to come by for either team the rest of the period with both squads headed to the second period still tied. 

Both teams remained locked in defensively throughout the first 13 minutes of the second until a Calgary boarding penalty put the Bisons on the power play, looking to take back the lead. Calgary took a second-consecutive penalty, this time for slashing, giving the Bisons a five-on-three power play. As the first penalty expired, Herd defender Rachel Gottfried rang her shot from the slot off the post but it was collected and slid home by Ashley Keller, putting the Bisons back up, 2-1. 

However with 1:01 left on the clock in the middle frame, the visitors tied the game back up at 2-2 on tally by Dana Wood, forcing the game to be decided in the third period. 

Clarke's goal in the final frame proved to be the winner as the Dinos claimed the valuable two points.

The Dinos and Bisons return to the ice again tomorrow at 2 p.m. for their second and final game of the weekend.