EDMONTON – Rookie Caitlyn Perlinger scored the second goal of her collegiate career just 1:07 into overtime to cap a memorable comeback for the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team with a 4-3 victory over the MacEwan Griffins Friday night from the Downtown Community Arena.

The Dinos, who entered the night tied for the last playoff spot, trailed 3-1 early in the second period, only to rally back and win the Canada West contest 4-3 in overtime.

With the result, the Dinos leapt over both Manitoba (6-10-1) – losers at UBC – and Trinity Western (6-10-1), who fell 3-2 to Alberta, into fifth place at 7-11-1. MacEwan picked up a point to improve to 3-15-1, but are six points back of the final playoff spot.

Both teams scored on their first shots of the game – MacEwan's Letta Mattheos tallied 2:40 into the contest off a turnover before Calgary's Elizabeth Lang tied it up two minutes later.

Claire Hobbs put the Griffins ahead 2-1 before the first period was out with an important goal for her. After an injury kept her out of eight first-semester games, the tally was her first since Feb. 4 of last season. 

Mila Verbicky put MacEwan up 3-1 early in the second period on a gorgeous coast-to-coast rush that she finished off by driving around a defender to the net and poking it past Gabriella Durante.

Ultimately, the lead didn't last as Calgary stormed back with goals by Sydney Mercier and Courtney Kollman to force overtime, setting the stage for Perlinger's winner.

The rookie from Kindersley, Sask. collected the puck in the Dinos zone and went to work. She breezed past her defender and took advantage of the open OT ice, sprinting deep into the attacking zone before wiring a shot under the bar and sending the Dinos bench spilling over the boards in celebration.

MacEwan goalie Lindsey Johnson made 33 saves for MacEwan, while Durante stopped 14 for Calgary.

The teams will meet again on Saturday in Calgary at 6 p.m. inside Father David Bauer Arena.

-UC-