Box Score Box Score

Three different defencemen scored for the University of Regina's women's hockey team in the Cougars' 4-3 victory over Saskatchewan on Friday night in Canada West action at The Co-operators Centre.

Kendra Finch and blueliners Hillary Lerat, Carleen Meszaros, and Alexis Larson all scored for the Cougars (6-3-0), while Rachel Johnson, Danny Stone, and Brooke Mutch replied for Saskatchewan (1-6-2).

Toni Ross made 30 saves for the Cougars as the second-year goalie improves to 4-1 on the season.

Kendra Finch opened the scoring on the power play for the Cougars early in the first, scoring with assists from Paige Wheeler and Lerat with Saskatchewan's Paige Anakaer off serving an interference minor. Johnson tied up the game just over two minutes later, with Cara Wooster getting credit for the helper.

Lerat scored on a shot from the point late in the first period to give the Cougars the lead going into the first intermission. Two Kennedys got in on the goal, as both Katelyn and Jill registered assists on Lerat's second of the season.

Stone tied up the game again for the Huskies with about five minutes left in the middle frame, but Meszaros scored less than three minutes after Stone's goal to restore the U of R's one-goal lead.

Larson scored what would turn out to be the game-winning goal for the Cougars four minutes into the third, giving the U of R a 4-2 advantage.

Mutch's goal came on the power play with 2:24 left in the third, but that was as close as Saskatchewan would come.

Cassidy Hendricks got the start between the pipes for Saskatchewan, but was pulled after Meszaros's goal. Hendricks ended up with 12 saves on 15 shots, while Tehnille Gard came in and made four saves in relief.

With 12 points through their first nine games of the Canada West schedule, the Cougars sit in third place in the conference standings and are off to their best start since the 2007-08 season.

The two teams will finish up the home-and-home on Saturday night in Saskatoon.