Women's Hockey | 8/18/2015 4:31:00 PM

LEKSAND, Sweden - The University of Regina Cougars women's hockey team kicked off its Sweden tour with a game on Tuesday night, falling 4-3 to Leksands IF in overtime.

Emma Waldenberger had a hat trick for the Cougars, while Jaycee Magwood notched two assists in her first game with the team.
Lisa Miljone had a hat trick for the host team, and Saga Thynell-Nissas also scored in the win.

The Cougars didn't take long to adjust to the larger ice surface, as they played with pace and pushed the tempo on the smaller Leksands team.

"I think we adjusted pretty well to ice surface and style of play," fourth-year defenceman Alexis Larson said. "The first period was a learning curve, but it was exciting to see us make those adjustments and work together."

Leksands struck first with only one minute and 18 seconds gone in the opening frame, as a long point shot was stopped by Toni Ross but the rebound kicked right to Thynell-Nissas who knocked it into the open cage.

Ross was tested a couple more times in the first period but a pair of nice blocker saves by the fifth-year goaltender held the lead at 1-0.

The best chance for the Cougars in the first period came with just over two minutes remaining, as a point shot by Larson was tipped in front by Bailey Braden. The puck deflected off of Braden's stick, beating Denise Reuterstrom but hitting the crossbar.

The Cougars would get on the board in the second period as Larson took a feed from Magwood, went up the boards to the net and rifled a pass in front. Waldenberger was in position and deflected it in, beating Reuterstrom low blocker side. 

Regina looked in control with the momentum from the first goal, as Waldenberger and Magwood connected again with 15 seconds left in the middle frame. Magwood took the puck into the corner and fed it in front to Waldenberger, who turned and outwaited the goalie before going post and in for her second of the game.

"My linemates (Magwood and Braden) and I clicked well today and really trusted and supported each other," Waldenberger said after the game. "I've been really confident that I'm going to have a good season and it was nice to kick it off with a strong start."

Leksands came out gunning in the third, and again started the period with an early goal. Miljone took a feed from Maddie Hall and made a nice move before beating Ross with a quick wrist shot just 57 seconds into the final period.

The Cougars bounced back for a second time, as Waldenberger continued her goal-scoring spree, netting her third of the game off a nice feed from Braden. The goal came on a two-on-one after Jolene Kirkpatrick sent Braden up the right side. Braden fed a pass in front for the one-timer and the puck squeezed through the pads of Reuterstrom.

Leksands would answer again just a couple minutes later, as Miljone scored her second of the game off assists from Hall and Ida Nikula. The puck bounced around the crease in front of Ross and Miljone circled around the net, found the loose puck and potted it to tie the game 3-3.

Neither team would break the tie before the end of regulation, so the game went to a five minute, four-on-four overtime period.

Leksands would collect the winner 3:21 into the extra frame, as an errant pass by the Cougars sent Miljone in alone. She fired a wrist shot that Ross got a piece of, but the puck slid under the netminder's arm and in to make it a 4-3 final for the home team.

Ross stopped 28 shots in the loss. Reuterstrom made 30 saves for Leksands.

The Cougars have one rest day before taking on the Sundsvall Wildcats on Thursday afternoon.

"I expect us to be more poised with the puck," Larson added. "We've learned that we have more time on the bigger surface and we've figured out how to use the ice properly. Now that we've got our hockey sense back and have the jitters out we'll be ready to go."