Second-year forward Lilla Carpenter-Boesch netted a hat trick as the University of Regina women's hockey team took a 3-2 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns at The Co-operators Centre on Saturday afternoon, locking up fifth place in the Canada West playoff race.
The Cougars improve to 8-14-2-4 with the weekend sweep, and will visit the fourth seed in Canada West for a quarterfinal series next weekend.
The scoring opened with a Carpenter-Boesch marker on the powerplay in the first period, as Kylee Kupper and Emma Waldenberger set up a tap-in goal for the Gray, Sask. product. Lethbridge bounced back with two goals in the second period, the first coming from Tricia Van Vaerenbergh at the 4:09 mark, as she took a feed from Brett Campbell and slid one past Jane Kish. The Pronghorns took the lead a few minutes later as a Cougar turnover sent Alli Borrow in alone and the rookie forward beat Kish with a quick shot to the blocker side.
The Cougars wasted no time tying the score in the third period, as Carpenter-Boesch faked out Jessica Lohues and slipped in a wrap around from behind the net just 24 seconds into the period.
The game-winning goal came at the 3:02 mark, on the powerplay once again. After a scramble in front, Waldenberger kicked the puck right onto the tape of Carpenter-Boesch who put it away as Waldenberger earned her third assist of the game.
Carpenter-Boesch, who has notched six goals in her last three games, credits her linemates (Kupper and Waldenberger) for her hot play.
"The three of us just read each other really well, we're always looking to make the smartest play and everyone's dedicated to the same goal at this time of the year," Carpenter-Boesch said following the game. "We have to continue to be confident and try not to overthink things. We'll keep buying in and working hard as we head into the playoffs."
Kish was solid in net for the Cougars, making 18 saves for her seventh win of the season. Lohues stopped 31 Cougar shots as Lethbridge drops to 3-18-2-5.
Saturday's game marked the final home game for fifth-year athletes Kylee Kupper, Bailey Braden and Nikki Watters-Matthes.
"It's going to be tough without them next year," Carpenter-Boesch added about Kupper, Braden and Watters-Matthes. "When I was a rookie I was really nervous but those three took me under their wings and were super encouraging. They're like my moms away from home."
The Cougars will visit either Alberta or Saskatchewan next weekend, as the two teams are tied with 55 points but Saskatchewan has one regular season game left against Mount Royal on Saturday evening. If Saskatchewan wins, they will finish third and the Cougars will face Alberta next weekend. A Huskie loss will drop them to fourth and set up a Cougar-Huskie matchup in the quarterfinal.
