Box Score
CALGARY – The Mount Royal University Cougars squeezed by the University of Regina Cougars with a 4-3 win on Friday night in Canada West women's hockey play at Flames Community Arena.

Coming into Friday's tilt, Regina was positioned as a heavy underdog. However, that wouldn't stop them from coming out hot.

Less than four minutes into the first, Brooke Fofonoff found herself with a step on the MRU defence. Racing to the puck, Fofonoff made a superb turnaround pass to Maggie Kate Fitzpatrick, who was wide open and driving to the net with blazing speed.

Fitzpatrick wired a hard wrister past the glove of Mount Royal netminder Scout Anderson, giving Regina a 1-0 lead.

Late in the period, Regina was given a controversial delay of game penalty. On the ensuing powerplay, Mount Royal took advantage. Kiana McNinch tapped in a goal at the doorstep of the crease to tie the game at one.

"Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't," said McNinch. "It was nice to see our powerplay generate some [offence]. I think special teams played a big role in our win tonight."

In the second period, Regina stayed relentless. The visiting Cougars forced MRU's Anderson to be on her game between the pipes. Anderson stayed sharp, making a couple of skilled saves to keep it tied for most of the period.

Past the halfway point of the second, Regina regained their lead. Kaylee Dyer redirected Quinn McLaren's shot from the wall, fooling Anderson to make it 2-1.

Just 40 seconds later, Mount Royal found another equalizer. Sydney Benko continued her career season, scoring her tenth of the year during a wild scramble in front of the Regina net.

Shortly after, Regina thought they had reestablished their lead with a near goal, but the officials waved it off. Shocked and dismayed, the Regina players turned to the referee to make their case that the puck went in even though the whistle had not been blown. 

Recognizing that the play was still live, MRU blueliner Jori Hansen-Young headed the other way with the puck and went on a breakaway. The veteran sniped a shot, going bar-down and popping Regina goaltender Natalie Williamson's water bottle off the top of the net. 

"The whole bench went crazy for it," said McNinch on her teammate's goal. "We've seen Jori's breakaway moves in practice, so as soon as we saw her get going, we all got really excited."

In a wild and controversial play, Mount Royal had their first lead of the game. MRU's home fans cheered loudly while Regina's visiting crowd rained boos down on the ice, feeling that their team had been robbed of a goal.

Nevertheless, Regina remained resilient. With under two minutes in the period, Bailey McMaster scored to bring the score even again.

Early in the third, Jordyn Hutt scored Mount Royal's second powerplay marker of the game. Hutt's third of the year would hold up as the game-winning goal.

MRU has just escaped a huge upset and recognized that they may have gotten some puck-luck.

"It definitely wasn't our best showing," said McNinch. "It goes to show that in this league, you can't take a night off because your opponent will take advantage of it. That's what Regina did tonight."

Regardless of Mount Royal's play, Regina elevated their game with desperate hopes of heading back to the postseason.

"[Regina] is fighting hard for a playoff spot; they have something to prove. They came out hard and fast," said McNinch.

Regina will look to emulate Friday's performance in Saturday's rematch for this season's final "Battle of the Cougars."

Puck drop at FCA is set for 5 p.m. MST.