CALGARY – The University of Alberta Pandas were opportunistic on Saturday evening as they extended their hot streak and sneaked past the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team 2-1 at Father David Bauer Arena.

The Pandas have now won 10 games in a row and improved their record to 18-2-2 – good enough for second place in the Canada West standings behind the UBC Thunderbirds.

Calgary had plenty of positives on Saturday, outshooting a veteran Alberta squad 30-14. Misty Rey was superb in the Pandas' net and dropped the Dinos to 8-12-2 on the season. They remain in fifth place with six games remaining.

"Score side, our process was good," noted Dinos interim head coach Josh Gosling. "The team worked, they gave us everything they could, but we were up against a good team."

The first period saw the Dinos leading in shots 12-4, but Rey and Gabriella Durante kept the offences off the scoreboard.

That trend looked to continue into the middle stanza before a late goal by the Pandas broke the deadlock. Natalie Kieser carried the play into the offensive zone where she placed a perfect shot into the far right corner to open the scoring.

Still dominating on the shot clock, the Dinos fought back to tie the game with a power play marker eight minutes into the third period. A cross-ice pass by Elizabeth Lang was deflected by an Alberta stick but managed to still find Sydney Mercier and her quick release beat a screened Rey.

With a power play goal of their own, Alberta regained the lead four minutes later though. Jadynn Morden deked past a defender and loaded up a heavy backhand shot that barely got past Durante.

Calgary pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker but were unable to get an equalizer.

"They're second in our league and we outshot them two to one, so today's effort is one we can continue to build on," said Gosling.

The Dinos will face the Manitoba Bisons at home next weekend, while the Pandas will welcome the Saskatchewan Huskies to Edmonton. Both weekend sets begin on Friday, Jan. 19.

-UC-