CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team fell 4-2 to the visiting Mount Royal University Cougars on Friday night in the first Crowchild Classic game of the regular season at Father David Bauer Arena.
The result leaves the Dinos record at 2-2-0-1, while the Cougars remain perfect at 3-0.
"I think it's a good learning game to have in October." said Dinos head coach Josh Gosling, "I think we got a lot of new players to the league and they got a good sense of where we need to get to."
The Dinos came out energetic, with Sydney Mercier opening the scoring less than two minutes into the game for her fourth goal of the season, with Mikayla Blomquist getting the assist. Mount Royal answered almost immediately, with Kiana McNinch snapping a one-timer into the back of the net to make it 1-1 minutes later. Neither team gave up much space after that. Dinos goaltender Maisie Cope was the story of the period, turning aside 15 shots in the first 20 minutes.
Mount Royal controlled most of the second period and kept the Dinos pinned in their own zone. Calgary still found a way to take the lead on the power play with just over seven minutes left, when Jada Johns scored off a pass from Caitlyn Perlinger. The Cougars were quick to respond. With just over five minutes left in the period, Jerzey Watteyne's wrist shot slipped under Cope to tie the game 2-2.
Jenn Shaw gave Mount Royal the lead less than a minute into the third period, and the Cougars made it stand. The Dinos pressed for the equalizer as the intensity picked up between the teams, with Cope, who finished with 35 saves, keeping Calgary within a goal. McNinch sealed the result with an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of regulation.
The Dinos will return to action Saturday, Oct. 24, when they travel to face the Cougars again at Flames Community Arenas. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. The game can be seen live on Canada West TV powered by BioSteel.
After Saturday's rematch, Mount Royal will travel to face the University of Alberta Pandas on Friday, Oct. 30.
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