CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team settled for a weekend split in the Crowchild Classic following a 5-2 setback versus the Mount Royal Cougars on Saturday at Flames Community Arenas. 

Forward Aliya Jomha netted two goals and two assists to lead Mount Royal. The Cougars improve to 16-4-2-2 on the season.

The Dinos received goals from Josie McLeod and Sydney Mercier but fall to 7-15-1-1.

Star netminder Kaitlyn Ross was back in the Mount Royal crease on Saturday and was solid again following a close 2-1 defeat Friday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Early in the first Ross made one of her best saves of the season, robbing Brooklyn Anderson who tried to deke to her backhand but was shut down by Ross's pad. 

The Cougars got on the board first for the second straight game with 6:45 left in the first. Alex Spence's centring pass found the skate of Allee Gerrard, redirecting into the open net. 

After a brief discussion between the officials, it was determined that Gerrard did not make a kicking motion and the call on the ice was confirmed as a good goal. 

A few minutes into the second period, the Dinos knotted the game at one with an excellent goal. Anderson made a superb pass into the slot to McLeod who sniped a shot post and in. 

A few minutes later, the Cougars restored their lead with Jomha's first of the night. Spence intentionally fired her point shot wide, causing the puck to bounce off the end boards right to Jomha who tapped in the puck on the doorstep of the crease. 

Just over two minutes later, Jomha got her second of the night on the power play. Athena Hauck eluded the Calgary penalty kill unit with a no-look pass to Jomha who one-timed a shot past Amelia Awad. 

Although the officials did not originally award a goal, a brief conference determined that the puck did go in and suddenly the Cougars had a 3-1 lead. 

While on another power play late in the period, Spence sent another point shot towards the Dinos net. Sydney Benko skillfully redirected the puck, beating Awad and giving MRU a 4-1 lead heading into the final 20 minutes. 

Mercier, the shootout hero at the Saddledome on Friday, cut the deficit back to two with a goal with just under four minutes to play. 

Abbey Borbandy iced the game with an empty net goal from her own blueline. 

Calgary returns to action next weekend when they battle the MacEwan Griffins in a home-and-home set, beginning Friday, Feb. 7 in Edmonton. Mount Royal will travel to face the Regina Cougars, Feb. 7-8.

MRU takes their 16-4-4 record on the road next weekend as they head east for their only regular season series against the University of Regina Cougars. Regina is eyeing the final Eastern playoff spot with a 10-10-4 record.