Horns offence clicks in win

PRONGHORNS DEFEAT COUGARS 4-1 IN WOMEN’S HOCKEY

For the past week, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s hockey team preached offence. Message received. The Pronghorns opened a 1-0 lead after the first period and struck for three more in the second period on their way to a 4-1 win over the Mount Royal Cougars in Canada West hockey action Friday night in Calgary.

With the win, the Horns are 3-2 as the rematch hits the Nicholas Sheran Ice tonight at 7 p.m.

“They did really well,” said Pronghorns head coach Michelle Janus. “They came out with energy right from the start of the game and they executed the systems we asked them to. We’ve really placed an emphasis on offence this past week and a half and they’re finally starting to see some production from that. So that’s nice.”

Tricia Van Vaerenbergh provided the firstperiod goal before the Horns went to work in the second period with three more.

Katelyn Breitkreuz scored 45 seconds into the second, Alli Borrow made it 3-0 Lethbridge with 4:12 left in the period and Delaney Duchek added a power-play goal to wrap up the scoring for the visitors.

The Cougars spoiled Pronghorns goaltender Alicia Anderson’s shutout bid in the third, but Anderson nonetheless put in a 32-save performance to earn the win.

Jodi Gentile drew three assists on the night for the Pronghorns.

“She did really well,” said Janus. “A couple of her shots were tipped in. She was just moving pucks and moving her feet right from the goal line. She did much better to keep the puck moving and utilize her teammates.”

The Pronghorns will look to go for the sweep tonight at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

“I think we’ll definitely expect them to come out very hard tomorrow,” said Janus. “They’re a team that’s always full of energy and in the past we’ve struggled with them. But if we can continue to keep the offence going and execute the systems, I think that’s a big thing for this team.”

In the men’s game, the Pronghorns lost 6-2 to the Cougars at Nicholas Sheran Arena to sit at 13-1-0.

After a scoreless first period, the Cougars scored four second-period goals for a lead they didn’t relinquish.

Justin Valentino — shorthanded — and Brandon Clowes scored for the Pronghorns in the third period, while goaltender Ty Edmonds put in a 27-save performance.

The Pronghorns looks for a split with the Cougars tonight when they head to Calgary.