CALGARY –  The Mount Royal University Cougars extended their winning streak to six with a 4-3 win over the defending Canada West women's hockey champion University of Alberta Pandas on Friday night at Flames Community Arena.

The Cougars and Pandas traded minor penalties in the opening period, going scoreless until the final moments. 

With Alberta forward Holly Magnus in the box for interference, Mount Royal's powerplay unit went to work as the clock wound down.

With just seven seconds on the clock, the Cougars lit the lamp. Isa MacPhee's point shot was redirected by Sydney Benko, who was positioned in front of Pandas' netminder Grace Glover. Benko's tip fooled Glover, giving MRU a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. 

The goal was Benko's team-leading fifth of the season.

The parade to the penalty box continued in the second period. Mount Royal was caught playing a little too physical, with Jori Hansen-Young getting called for head contact and Ava Metzger called for bodychecking.

Although MRU successfully killed off the infractions, Alberta found an equalizer at even strength. Pandas' captain Natalie Kieser got one past MRU goalie Scout Anderson for Kieser's first of the year.

The two teams stayed tied heading into the third. 

Mount Royal started the final frame on the powerplay with Hailey Carothers taking a costly bodychecking penalty with four seconds left in the second period.

Cougars' star rookie Keyana Bert found the back of the net with a laser of a one-timer from the top of the circle for her third of the campaign, giving Mount Royal the lead early in the third.

Lyvia Butz nearly extended MRU's lead shortly after Bert's marker when she was sprung on a breakaway but was denied by Glover.

Partway through the third, the Pandas evened the score once again. 2025 Canada West playoff hero Abby Soyko got her name on the scoresheet, beating MRU's Anderson with a shot from the high slot to tie the game at two with just over ten minutes left in the contest.

The Pandas had an opportunity to take the lead on the powerplay later in the period but the Cougars' penalty kill stifled Alberta.  

Just as the penalty expired, Mount Royal took the lead for the third time in the game. Mount Royal winger Allee Gerrard's burst of speed allowed her to corral a loose puck just in time for her to make a move to her backhand, sliding the puck underneath the pad of Glover.

And for the third time in the game, Alberta tied it up. Soyko flexed her clutch gene once again, scoring with 27 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime.

During three-on-three overtime, the two sides exchanged chances but neither could find a winner. A shootout was needed.

Scout Anderson denied all three Alberta shooters and Keyana Bert sniped the only goal in the shootout, giving Mount Royal the win in a thrilling contest.

With the win, MRU kept pace with their rivals, the Calgary Dinos for first in the East Division, with each team having seven wins but Mount Royal holding two games in hand.

For Alberta, they continue to struggle this season after winning the league title last year. The loss moves the Pandas to 3-5-3.