Box Score

The University of Regina's women's soccer team clinched a Canada West postseason spot after upending No. 4-ranked Alberta by a 1-0 margin on Sunday afternoon in a conference game at the U of R Field.

Third-year midfielder Molly Glass scored the only goal of the contest midway through the second half. A free kick by Kelsey Abstreiter from about 45 yards out was saved by Alberta keeper Kelti Biggs, but the rebound ricocheted off a body in the box and went right to Glass, who drove it home for her first of the season.

The Cougars survived a few late Alberta chances to hang on for the victory, improving their Canada West record to 7-3-0 on the season and moving up to fourth place in the Canada West standings with 21 points.

Alberta had what might have been its best chance of the first half just three minutes into the game. Fallon Dickie stepped into a shot from the left edge of the 18-yard box, but Regina keeper Stephanie Possberg made a nice save to tip it wide. One of the Pandas' quality scoring chances in the first half came in injury time, but a shot by Carleigh Miller following a corner kick was cleared off the line by U of R defender Sarah Novak.

The Pandas had a fine opportunity to take the lead just after halftime, but after the visitors worked the ball inside the box a shot from in tight by Darcie Kutryk was sent just over the bar.

After Glass's goal in the 67th minute, Alberta pushed forward for the equalizer but it was the counterattacking Cougars that created several scoring chances. Jessica Meyer had an opportunity 74 minutes in from the top of the box following a Novak free kick but fired it right at Biggs, who made one of her three saves of the afternoon.

In the 84th minute, Meagan Cormier sent a nice through ball to Jayde McFee, but Biggs came out to challenge and made a nice stop to keep Alberta within one. Meyer had another chance after the ensuing corner kick, but sailed a drive from the right edge of the box just over the bar.

Alberta had several chances for the equalizer in injury time. Elise Emmott, who was dangerous all game for Alberta, fired a medium-range shot that just went over the bar. The Pandas had a pair of corner kicks in injury time, with the first one resulting in Possberg making a spectacular save off a header by Miller.

Possberg ended up with six saves, setting a new University of Regina record with her fifth shutout of the season.

Alberta ended up with a 24-8 edge in shot attempts during the match. The Pandas also had an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Alberta, which came into the weekend as the only undefeated Canada West team, falls to 5-2-3 as the Pandas also lost to Saskatchewan on Saturday in Saskatoon. The Pandas are back in action in Edmonton next weekend, as they finish off the Canada West schedule at home against Winnipeg and Manitoba.

The Cougars hit the road next weekend for their final conference matches. The U of R will play Lethbridge on Saturday and Calgary on Sunday, and will host a Canada West quarterfinal match the following weekend if they register wins in both games.

NOTES: The Cougars will participate in the Canada West postseason for the second time in program history and for the first time since the 2006 season, when the host for the conference playoffs was assigned on a rotational basis and the U of R played host to the six-team Canada West tournament.