Women's Hockey | 1/27/2016 11:18:00 AM

FRIDAY: vs. Mount Royal University, 7 p.m., The Co-operators Centre
SATURDAY: vs. Mount Royal University, 3 p.m., The Co-operators Centre

The University of Regina women's hockey team looks to continue its rise up the Canada West standings this weekend as the Cougars play host to Mount Royal University.

Regina is coming off a split against the Alberta Pandas, falling 2-1 on Friday but bouncing back for a 4-3 win at The Co-operators Centre on Saturday. The split means that the Pandas remain a single point ahead of the Cougars in Canada West, sporting 38 points and a 12-8-0-2 record. Regina, with 37 points, has a 10-8-3-1 record. Both teams trail the UBC Thunderbirds, who have 41 points after two wins over the fourth-place Saskatchewan Huskies on the weekend.

 "We'll approach this weekend the same as every other one - every point matters to us and it certainly matters to MRU as well," head coach Sarah Hodges said. "We'd like to have a home playoff game but we're still looking ahead one game at a time."

Mount Royal enters the weekend with a 7-11-3-1 record, just one spot out of the sixth and final playoff spot, which is currently occupied by Lethbridge. MRU had a tough outing last weekend, dropping two games (3-2 and 6-1) to their cross-town rival Calgary Dinos. The Dinos have come on as of late but are still in last place in the standings. 

The Cougars travelled to MRU back in November, winning the opener 5-2 before Mount Royal stormed back for a 6-2 win in the second matchup. Jaycee Magwood had two goals in the first game, while Kylie Gavelin had a goal and three assists and Stephanie Sawchuk and Alexis Larson each registered a goal and a helper. Sawchuk also added two goals on the second night.

Magwood leads all Canada West rookies in scoring with eight goals and 13 assists through 22 games. Her 21 points also leads the Cougars and ranks her third in the conference behind the Calgary duo of Iya Gavrilova and Sash Vafina. Gavelin is next on the Cougars' scoring list with nine goals and 11 assists. Emma Waldenberger had 12 goals and four assists and Larson has three goals and eight helpers from the blue line.

Mount Royal has had trouble scoring this season, with the second lowest total of goals scored in the conference. Sarah Weninger is the team's leading scorer with seven goals and five assists. Rachel Piitz and Jocelyn Froehlich each have 10 points.

Toni Ross has been nothing short of spectacular in net for the Cougars, recently claiming the school's all-time record for career wins with 32. Her 13 wins this season lead the nation and her .934 save percentage is second in Canada West.

 "Toni has a great desire to win and that has kept her focused through every game and practice this season," Hodges said of the fifth-year goaltender. "She cares more about the team than her personal success and that's what makes her such a great competitor."

At the other end of the rink this weekend will be either Jessica Ross or Emma Pincott. The two Mount Royal goaltenders have split time between the pipes, with Ross at a .922 save percentage and Pincott at .903.