The University of Regina's women's hockey team lost to the University of Alberta Pandas 3-2 in Game 1 of the best-of-three Canada West quarterfinals.
The Pandas scored three third period goals to take the win away from the Cougars, who held a lead for most of the night. Megan Wilson's goal with 2:12 left in the third period gave the Pandas their first lead of the game and stood as the game-winning goal.
Cougars defender
Olivia Leggett scored 11 minutes into the first period on the first Regina power play opportunity of the game.
Lilla Carpenter-Boesch found Leggett on a cross-ice pass who put the shot away for the goal. Shots on goal were tied at 9-9 after the opening 20 minutes.
The second period did not have any goals as both goalies turned away every shot they faced. The Cougars killed a four-minute double minor penalty late in the frame to hold onto the 1-0 lead through two periods.
The third period was a wild one as the two teams combined for four goals. Alberta forward Danica Namaka scored 1:32 into the period to tie the game 1-1.
Jenna Merk scored just over a minute later to retake the lead for the Cougars. Merk cleaned up the rebound off a Raea Gilory shot that Alberta goalie Halle Oswald couldn't corral.
The Cougars had two power play opportunities in the following minutes to extend their lead but the Pandas killed both of them. Alberta's Payton Laumbach scored with just over eight minutes remaining to make it a tied game once again. Wilson scored with limited time remaining on a wrist shot that went just over
Arden Kliewer's glove to give the Pandas a lead they would not relinquish despite Regina's best efforts. The Cougars kept the puck in the Pandas zone for majority of the last minute but could not get many good looks at the net. Alberta cleared the puck with under 10 seconds left to seal the comeback victory.
Oswald finished with 24 saves between the pipes for the Pandas.
Kliewer finished with a game-high 26 saves for the Cougars, who must win tomorrow to stave off elimination.
The two teams play again tomorrow, at 7:00 p.m. MST (8:00 p.m. SK) in a must-win game for the Cougars. Â
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