A four-goal first period helped the No. 3-ranked Manitoba Bisons to a 7-3 defeat of the University of Regina women's hockey team on Saturday evening.

Sheridan Oswald had two goals, while Erin Kucheravy, Kaitlyn Chatyrbok,  Jenai Buchanan, Lauryn Keen and Jordyn Zacharias scored as the Bisons earned the weekend sweep of the Cougars. Emma Waldenberger, Shaelyn Vallotton and Ireland South replied for the Cougars (7-10-2-3).

Zacharias scored the first goal of the game, six minutes into the opening frame during four-on-four action. Oswald tipped in a point shot on the powerplay two minutes later, and then notched her second of the period taking a feed in front from Zacharias soon after. Keen capped off the first-period burst with another powerplay goal, putting a quick shot past Jane Kish.

Regina got their first of the game early in the second period as South potted a powerplay marker. South's third of the season was a perfectly-placed shot through a screened Lauren Taraschuk. Kucheravy would restore the four-goal lead three minutes later, deflecting a shot off a Regina defender and in.

The Cougars again opened the scoring in the third period, as Vallotton scored her third of the season shorthanded. Waldenberger put a shot on Taraschuk that was stopped, but Vallotton was in perfect position for the rebound for her third goal of the Canada West campaign.

Buchanan and Chatyrbok added the third and fourth powerplay goals of the game for the Bisons near the midway point of the period before Waldenberger answered with a powerplay goal of her own. 

Taraschuk made 18 saves in net for Manitoba. Kish stopped 32 shots between the pipes for the Cougars.

Regina will be on the road again next weekend, with a weekend matchup against the second-place Alberta Pandas.