Courtesy of Lethbridge Pronghorns Sports Information

Lethbridge, AB – After a tough 4-3 loss Friday night in Calgary, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns were looking to bounce back and split the weekend series against the Mount Royal University Cougars. After three periods of fast-paced action the 'Horns came out on top of a 5-3 decision. 

Dylan Tait got the start for the Pronghorns and turned aside all but 3 of the 50 shots he faced, while Colin Cooper started in net for Mount Royal. He faced a total of 30 shots from the 'Horns on the night.

Zane Jones, Mitch Maxwell, Dalton Sward, Blake Orban, and Tim Campbell each net individual markers for Lethbridge.

Matthew Brown, Tanner Olstad, and Matt Bellerive were the goal scorers for Mount Royal. 

Lethbridge struck first, 13 seconds into the game. Winning the opening faceoff, the 'Horns went hard into the zone and Cass Mappin, in behind the net, found Jones in front of the net and the rookie winger quickly buried it to give his team an early lead. 

Cody Cartier had a couple great scoring chances for MRU but couldn't convert, however the Cougar's leading scorer, Matthew Brown, tied the game midway through the first. MacKenzie Johnston's shot on net from just inside the blue line was stopped by Tait but the rebound went wide and Brown got his stick on it and put it over the line, his sixth of the season, at 8:43.

Tanner Olstad added a second goal for Mount Royal at 11:50. Taking a quick feed from Johnston, the third year forward went hard to the net, drawing Tait wide and put a great shot on target, top-shelf, blocker-side.

The 'Horns answered back in the opening minutes of the second. Sward's hard shot from the hash marks soared into the net past Cooper for his second of the season, at 1:50.

Riding the momentum of Sward's equalizing goal, the 'Horns net their third of the night courtesy of Blake Orban and, moments later, Mappin and Maxwell found themselves on a 2-on-1 and rose the occasion. Mappin hit Maxwell with a perfect feed that Cooper couldn't stop. His first of the season, at 5:42.

But MRU answered right back. Jordan McNaughton's shot on net wouldn't make it through but then Bellerive grabbed the loose puck and brought the Cougars back within one. Campbell then snuck a hard shot under the blocker of the Cougars' keeper a few minutes later, which re-established a two-goal lead for the home team.

Shots through two slightly favoured the Horns, 26-23.

Lots of shots on Tait as the third period got underway. A barrage of shots from the point, courtesy of McNaughton and Johnston, each came close, as did efforts by Hauptman and Bellerive, but none could crack the Lethbridge keeper.

Despite being outshot 27-4 in the final twenty minutes of play, the Horns held on for the win.

With this win the Horns improve to 2-5-1 on the season, while the Cougars sit at 4-2-2.

Next weekend the Horns host the UBC Thunderbirds in a two game weekend series, while the Cougars return to Calgary where they will host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.