Box Score
CALGARY –  Summer Fomradas' overtime heroics gave the Mount Royal University Cougars women's hockey team a 3-2 victory over the University of Manitoba Bisons on Friday night at Flames Community Arena.

Friday's contest marked the first time former MRU associate head coach Jordan Colliton was on the bench opposite the Cougars. Colliton was named head coach of the Bisons earlier this year, bringing former Mount Royal captain Lyndsey Janes to be an assistant with Manitoba. 

After playing with Janes for two seasons and having Colliton as a coach, Fomradas enjoyed the experience of playing against the former Cougars.

"Their offensive zone play kept us on our toes; but overall [the Bisons] are decently similar to us," said Fomradas. "It was fun to play against them. Really fun."

The game remained scoreless after the first period with the Cougars breaking the ice partway through the second period.

Keyana Bert got her first career Canada West goal to give Mount Royal a 1-0 lead. Bert got a stick on Abbey Borbandy's point shot, tipping the puck past the outstretched leg of Bisons' netminder Cypress Classen.

The rookie forward had been working tirelessly for the past few games to get a goal and her perseverance paid off in the second period for the Cougars.

However, the Cougars lead lasted just 32 seconds.

After retrieving a loose puck in the corner, Louise Fergusson whipped a perfect feed to a wide open Sara Harbus in front, quickly one timing it past MRU goalie Scout Anderson to even the score at one.

An outstanding connection had the Bisons right back in the game.

Late in the period, Manitoba gained their first lead of the hockey game.

An awkward bounce in front of the Mount Royal net gave the Bisons a powerplay goal. The go-ahead marker was credited to Norah Collins for her first of the season.

As the clock passed the halfway point of the third period, MRU was determined to do what the Bisons had done earlier in the contest: find an equalizer.
Just past the 13 minute mark, veteran forward Allee Gerrard did just that.

Taking advantage of a by the Bisons at the MRU blueline, Gerrard turned on the jets, streaking down the right wing and firing a shot that blazed past the blocker of Classen. 

Gerrard's goal would leave the two teams deadlocked at two, forcing the game to three-on-three overtime.

In the extra period, it took the Cougars just 43 seconds to score and grab the extra point in a thrilling hockey game.

Gerrard's clean faceoff win put the puck on the stick of Summer Fomradas who deked and dangled her way to the net before going five hole to win the game for Mount Royal. 

Possibly one of the prettiest goals of Fomradas' career, the third year blueliner said it all happened in a blur.

"It was a quick win off the draw and when I looked up I saw that two of Manitoba's players were sucked down low," said Fomradas, describing her OT winner. "I saw I had space and remembered that I scored almost the exact same goal last year against Regina. I side stepped their defender, went in and scored fivehole."

Fomradas and the Cougars will look to sweep the Bisons on Saturday as they face off for a rematch at 4 p.m. MT.