Hailey Dirk, Cougars Athletics 

 

CALGARY - Friday night, the Mount Royal Cougars' women's hockey team and the Alberta Pandas faced off at the Flames Community Arenas. The weekend before, the Cougars had been beaten by the Manitoba Bisons, so the Calgary-based team was looking for some redemption.

 

 After a quick start from the Cougars, the final score was 4-2 for the team in white with blue trim.

Commenting after the game Kalaina Kozak, Pandas forward, said "Tomorrow we're going to have to come out strong from the start and find a way to carry that momentum if we want to win." 

 

After it initially seemed the Pandas were building momentum, the Cougars scored the first goal of the game, with a shot from Nicolette Seper. Mount Royal struck again with another goal, this time Kate Scidmore picking up the goal. 

 

After the first intermission, the Pandas came out flying but their frustration grew even worse, as Tatum Amy scored the third unanswered goal for her team. In turn, the Pandas put the pressure on the Cougars' goalie, Zoe De Beauville but they were held off the board after 40 minutes of play.

 

In the third however, Pandas' forward Danielle Hardy was finally able to solve De Beauville and put her team back into the game. However, as the Pandas began to again build momentum the Cougars hit back with another goal fired in by defenceman Mackenzie Butz. The Pandas, nonetheless, fought back, and Autumn MacDougall scored with mere minutes left on the clock. 

 

The Booster Juice Players of the Game were Zoe De Beauville from the Cougars and Cayle Dillon from the Pandas. Saturday, Jan. 19, the two teams will travel to Edmonton to complete the second half of the home-and-home.