Box Score

Kaitlin Willoughby's goal five minutes into double overtime gave the University of Saskatchewan's women's hockey team a 2-1 win over Regina in the third and deciding game of the best-of-three Canada West final series on Sunday night in Saskatoon.

The goal put an end to an epic series that saw the teams play over 287 minutes in three consecutive nights – the equivalent of just under five regulation 60-minute games.

After scoreless first and second periods, Saskatchewan's Cami Wooster and the U of R's Carleen Meszaros traded goals in the third period – the only two of regulation.

Third-year goaltender Jennifer Schmidt was brilliant again for the Cougars, making 40 saves in over 75 minutes played. Schmidt started all eight postseason games for the U of R, finishing with a 0.92 goals-against average and a .968 save percentage.

The loss puts an end to an incredible playoff run for the Cougars, who entered the Canada West postseason as the No. 5 seed but defeated Manitoba on the road in two straight games to advance to the conference semifinals against Alberta. They then defeated the Pandas in three games in Edmonton – all by 2-1 scores – to earn a berth in the final series against the Huskies.

Saskatchewan will move on to the CIS Women's Hockey Championship for the second time in program history. The six-team tournament will be hosted by St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. beginning on Mar. 13.