WINNIPEG - The visiting University of Saskatchewan Huskies upset the No. 1 ranked University of Manitoba Bisons 3-1 Friday night in Winnipeg.
With loss, the Bisons fall to 11-5-2-1 while the Huskies rise to 12-6-0-1. Saskatchewan now vaults ahead of the Herd in the Canada West standings with the road victory.
Saskatchewan opened the scoring early in the first period. Danielle Nogier stepped out from behind the Bisons net and put a backhand shot on goal. Manitoba goaltender Rachel Dyck made the initial stop, but Kayla Kirwan got on the loose puck lifting it over her shoulder and in for the 1-0 Saskatchewan lead.
Manitoba was unable to get much going in the first period, sending only six shots onto Huskies' netminder Jessica Vance. In the second, the Herd got going with some energy but once again she was equal to the task, keeping her team ahead.
The home side came close to tying the game early in the third period. A shot from the right faceoff dot was stopped by Vance and Lauryn Keen thought she saw a loose puck. She drove towards the puck and appeared to get it through but the Saskatchewan goalie was able to keep it out.
The Huskies extended their lead with eight minutes left to play. A misply behind the Bisons goal wound up on the stick of Rachel Lundberg and she snapped it home to put Saskatchewan up 2-0.
A lucky bounce in front got the Bisons within one. A pass from Keen bounced off a Huskies stick, up and over Vance, ending her shutout bid and cutting her side's lead to 2-1.
Saskatchewan's Emily Upgang added an empty net goal.
Vance made 22 saves in the win for the Huskies, while Dyck stopped 16 in the loss for the Bisons.
Both teams will meet again Saturday. afternoon, 4 p.m. CT at Wayne Fleming Arena.