Bisons survive with 3-1 win over Cougars

Recap by Ethan Bomhof, Mount Royal Sports Information

CALGARY, Alta – The University of Manitoba Bisons handed the Mount Royal University Cougars a convincing 3-1 defeat in game two of the Canada West women's hockey semifinal to force a deciding game three.

After a narrow loss on Friday, the Bisons were by far the better team at Flames Community Arena in Saturday afternoon's tilt.

"We simplified and stayed connected," said Bisons' head coach Jordan Colliton. "We wanted to set the table for the next line and have active changes and we did that well in the first two periods."

In the first 40 minutes, it was all Manitoba. Mount Royal struggled to control the game, and the Bisons wouldn't budge. Yet, the Cougars were not surprised by the response from their counterpart.

"This time of year, they've got their back up against the wall. Their season's done if they don't rise to the occasion. They've been playing playoff-like desperation hockey since November. Not a chance did it surprise our group but we certainly didn't match that urgency," said Mount Royal head coach Scott Rivett.

The Bisons may have been concerned they would get any bounces when Sophia Heidinger rang a shot off the post after being sprung on a partial breakaway early in the game.

Just a few minutes later, the Bisons gained their first lead of the series. Hanna Bailey sniped one from the point over the shoulder of Scout Anderson.

The Bisons doubled up on the Cougars late in the period. Norah Collins went unaccounted for by the MRU defence and punched home a rebound. 

The onslaught continued by Manitoba in the second, with Sadie Keller getting her third of the postseason.

After allowing three goals on eight shots, Anderson was given the hook and Kate Holan came in relief. 

The Cougars struggled to find any offence in the centre of the ice with the Bisons executing their gameplan flawlessly.

"That was one of our keys today. Deny the netfront, deny the middle of the ice. I thought we did a good job blocking shots and keeping them to the outside," said Colliton. 

Mount Royal began to play better hockey in the third period, finally generating some offence in the middle of the ice. Sydney Benko cut the deficit to two with a powerplay goal halfway through the final frame. 

However, the Bisons shut them down the rest of the way to even up the series.

The result sets up a winner-takes-all game three on Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Canada West final and earning a berth to the U SPORTS National Championship in Waterloo. 

Puck drop for game three is set for 2 p.m. MST. Tickets can be purchased online and the game can be streamed live on Canada West TV – Powered by BioSteel.