CALGARY – Sydney Mercier scored a hat trick to lead the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team to a 4-1 win over the Manitoba Bisons on Saturday at Father David Bauer Arena, sealing a weekend sweep.

The reigning Canada West Player of the Week finished the two-game set with four goals. Mercier now has goals in five consecutive games and established a new career high.

"It's always fun," Mercier said. "Playing with my linemates, they can find me really well."

Calgary head coach Josh Gosling praised her impact. "Credit to Syd, she scored three and was the driving force today. Our structure was better, and she continues to elevate her play."

The Dinos needed only 32 seconds to open the scoring. After Kyla Mitenko stole the puck at centre ice and carried it into the Bisons zone, she sent a quick pass across to Brooklyn Anderson. Anderson moved it into the middle lane and fed Mercier, who was left alone in front. Mercier lifted a backhand over the left shoulder of Bisons goaltender Emily Shippam for the 1-0 lead.

Calgary added to it early in the second. A scramble at the Manitoba blue line ended with Jess Martens coming away with the puck. She sliced through the Bisons defence before sliding a pass to Brette Kerley, who put a backhand under Shippam's glove for her first of the season to double the Dinos' lead.

Despite chances at both ends, it was Calgary scoring again in the late stages of the second period. Anderson carried the puck behind the net and flipped it out front. Mercier took the initial shot, grabbed her own rebound and buried her second of the afternoon to make it 3-0 after 40 minutes.

Manitoba, which outshot Calgary 38-24, finally broke through in the third. On the power play, Sophia Anderson and Hanna Bailey exchanged the puck along the blue line before Bailey sent a long shot through traffic and past Dinos goaltender Amelia Awad, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Mercier completed the hat trick shorthanded into an empty net at in the final minutes of the game, sealing the 4-1 win.

The Dinos face the Mount Royal Cougars in a home-and-home set starting Friday, Nov. 28 at Father David Bauer Arena.

"We're getting tired, it's our ninth straight weekend," Mercier added. "Resting, taking care of our bodies and focusing on details will be important."

Gosling agreed. "It's about recovery and staying in the moment, not looking ahead to the break. We're going to war against a rival."

Manitoba returns home next weekend to host the Regina Cougars.

-UC-