The University of Regina's women's hockey team dug an early hole that it couldn't get out of on Saturday night, ending up on the wrong side of a 3-2 score against the Saskatchewan Huskies in a Canada West game in Saskatoon.
The Cougars spotted Saskatchewan a 3-0 lead before getting goals from both
Jordan Kulbida and
Ireland Sorestad in the opening minute of the third, but the Huskies were able to hang on for their second 3-2 win over the Cougars in as many days.
Playing her first Canada West game in her hometown, Saskatoon's
Arden Kliewer made 29 saves for the Cougars as Saskatchewan held a 32-20 advantage in shots during the contest. Both teams struck once on the power play as the Cougars finished 1-for-4 and Saskatchewan was 1-for-5.
Saskatchewan's Jasper Desmarais opened the scoring early in the first period before goals by both Sophie Lalor and Jordyn Holmes in the second put the Huskies up three by the midway point of the period.
The Cougars got on the board just eight seconds into the third period when rookie
Trinity Grove took possession following a Saskatchewan turnover. Grove's backhand was stopped, but Kulbida pounced on the rebound to notch her first goal of the campaign. And Regina scored just 49 seconds later on the power play on a strange one, as
Jenna Merk found Sorestad from behind the net and Sorestad's shot deflected off a Saskatchewan player, up into the air, and behind Huskies goaltender Camryn Drever to get the Cougars within one.
But that was it for the scoring as Drever turned aside seven Regina shots in the final frame to secure the win.
The Cougars (1-3-0-0) will now prepare for two home games next weekend as Alberta is in town for games on Friday night (7:00) and Saturday afternoon (3:00) at The Co-operators Centre.