The Huskies women’s hockey team is only two points back from the top of the Canada West standings after returning from Edmonton, Alta. with one win and one loss.

The Huskies are now 4-2 on the season and sit in third place behind the University of Regina Cougars and this past weekend’s foe, the University of Alberta Pandas.

The Huskies dropped the first contest 1-3 to the number two Pandas on Oct. 18. Natasha Steblin got scoring started in the fading minutes of the first period when she flicked a shot past Huskies goaltender Cassidy Hendricks to give the Pandas a 1-0 lead which the team held onto through the the first intermission.

The home team continued to pressure the Huskies in the second period, creating numerous scoring opportunities. It was quality goaltending from Hendricks that kept the game close as she turned away all shots that came her way.

The Huskies scored their first goal of the night to level the score off a turnover in the Panda zone. Captain Cami Wooster corralled the puck and sent a stinging slapshot over Pandas netminder Michala Jeffries’ shoulder. The Pandas outshot the Huskies 22-9 after the first two periods, but the score stood tied at 1-1.

Penalties hurt the Huskies in the third period, as the Pandas were awarded three straight power plays. The Pandas broke the Dogs streak of 15 killed penalties with a goal on their second one-man advantage. Jayden Skoye scored to edge the home team ahead 2-1 with a backhand shot past Hendricks with 15 minutes left to play.

The Dogs thought they had tied the score with nine minutes remaining, but the goal was disallowed and the Pandas maintained their one point lead. Lindsey Cunningham tallied the final goal of the night for the Pandas into an empty net to end the contest at 3-1 for Alberta.

Hendricks made an impressive 25 saves while Jeffries made 12.

The Huskies needed an overtime goal to down the Pandas 3-2 on Oct. 19. Kandace Cook and Sarra Greschner scored in regular time and Wooster netted the game-winning goal in additional time.

After a scoreless opening period, the Huskies were first on the scoreboard in the second. Cook scored just over a minute into the period during a powerplay to notch the Huskies ahead 1-0.

The Pandas responded in the eighth minute when Jocelyn Zabrick netted a goal to level the game. The Dogs pulled ahead 2-1 after Greschner scored the final goal of the period when the Pandas were shorthanded yet again.

With five minutes left to play, Janelle Froehler closed the gap and sent the game into overtime. Wooster’s goal at the eight minute mark secured the victory for the Dogs.

Huskies goalie Karen Lefsrud stopped 34 shots while at the other end of the ice Lindsey Post turned away 19. The Pandas outshot the Huskies 37-21 on the night.

The Huskies take on the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns on Friday Oct. 25 and Saturday Oct. 26 in Lethbridge.