Box Score The Mount Royal University Cougars women's hockey team are on the board for the 2024-25 Canada West season. MRU shutdown the visiting Trinity Western University Spartans with a 2-0 win.

Mount Royal was awarded an early powerplay after Kiana McNinch was tripped by Spartans veteran forward Jordyn Matthews. 

The Cougars' best chance came late in the powerplay when Aliya Jomha fed a fantastic pass to Jordyn Hutt in front but Trinity Western netminder Kate Fawcett showed off her quick reflexes with an impressive left pad save. 

Jomha, a fourth-year centre, is poised for a big season and her talent was on display right off the bat.

Midway through the opening frame, Mount Royal made sure to capitalize on a big chance the second time around. Abbey Borbandy's point shot was deflected by Athena Hauck, perfectly redirecting the puck over the shoulder of Fawcett and into the net. 

No stranger to scoring big goals, Hauck gets the Cougars' first of the 2024-25 season.

MRU successfully killed off a Spartan powerplay before going back on the advantage late in the first. Jace Scott was given a double-minor for a check to the head of a Cougars player. Mount Royal was unable to score again in the period and would start the second with 97 seconds of powerplay time. 

Trinity Western was able to regroup well after some time in the locker room and looked much more engaged early in the second. 

MRU's Kiana McNinch had a dangerous chance just a few feet in front of Kate Fawcett but TWU forward Brooke Dorash made a clutch, last-ditch takeaway to keep MRU's lead at just one.

After an extend period of high-pressure from Mount Royal, Trinity Western went on the powerplay and turned up the heat in the offensiuve zone. Cougars' goalie Kaitlyn Ross was given her first real test of the game but stood tall and shut the door on the Spartans.

The two teams exchanged chances but ultimately the period went scoreless and Mount Royal retained their 1-0 lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

An area that the Spartans excelled consistently through the game was shotblocking. A puck wacking off Trinity Western's shin pads was a frequent noise heard on Friday night. 

However, TWU was not able to solve the brick wall that is Kaitlyn Ross. 

Jerzey Watteyne would add a goal late in the game to make it 2-0 and Ross would secure her 14th career regular season shutout.

The Spartans and Cougars will face off again on Saturday at Flames Community Arenas. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. MT. Tickets can be purchased online and fans can stream all the action on Canada West TV.