The University of Regina women's hockey team lost a 4-2 decision to the Alberta Pandas at the Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton on Saturday afternoon. The win for the Pandas is their first home win of the season, snapping a three game losing streak at the Drake.
Alex Poznikoff continued to be a thorn in the Cougars' side, scoring twice and assisting on another after scoring once on Friday night as well. Janelle Froehler and Ashley Morin also scored for the Pandas, who improve to 2-4-0 with the win.
Carleen Meszaros (pictured) and
Kylie Gavelin scored in the loss.
The Pandas outshot the Cougars 14-3 in the opening frame and came out of the first 20 minutes with a 2-0 lead. Poznikoff opened the scoring near the end of the period with a high backhand that beat
Toni Ross, and Froehler scored just two minutes later to grow the lead.
For the second-straight night, Regina came to life in the second period. Returning from injury,
Bailey Braden started a rush and the puck ended up on the stick of Meszaros. The Cougars captain, who was celebrating her 23rd birthday, fired a shot over the shoulder of Lindsay Post to cut the lead in half.
Poznikoff scored her second of the night and third of the weekend early in the final period, off a slick feed from Froehler. Froehler found Poznikoff on the doorstep and she snuck a shot under the pad of Ross to restore the two goal lead. Gavelin would answer a couple minutes later with her second of the season, cutting the Pandas lead to one again.
Stephanie Sawchuk and
Caitlin Dempsey assisted on the marker.
Alberta added an insurance marker with nine minutes left off the stick of Morin, and was able to hang on to the final buzzer.
Post made 23 saves in the win. Ross made 21 saves for the Cougars, in her first loss of the season.
The Cougars will set their sights on the University of Saskatchewan, as they play the Huskies in a home-and-home set next weekend.