With a goal and an assist, Alanna Sharman continued her torrid pace since returning from injury in a 3-1 win by the U of M Bisons over the University of Regina Cougars Friday.
The winger opened scoring for Manitoba with her third goal in five games after missing the first 16 of the season with a lower-body injury. She added an assist in the third to make it five points in five games.
“Sitting out you see a lot of things that you miss when you’re playing,” Sharman said.
“I definitely paid attention a lot when I was out to what works and what doesn’t. I think our line’s rolling pretty well and when you’re doing the small things right, points are going to come.”
On the opening goal, Sharman picked the puck up from the corner and curled out toward the Regina net. Goaltender Morgan Baker came out to challenge, but it made no difference as Sharman picked the corner for a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Megan Neduzak extended the lead a few minutes later. Her point shot snuck under Baker’s glove to make it 2-0 Bisons in the first.
The two-goal lead stood until the third when Sheridan Oswald stretched it to three for Manitoba. A Sharman shot was kicked into the slot, right onto the stick of Oswald and she shovelled it into the net.
Jaycee Magwood broke the goose egg for Regina moments later to make it 3-1 Manitoba.Her marker was the only goal to get past Lauren Taraschuk.
With a playoff spot locked down, Bisons interim head coach Sean Fisher said the team will not change much down the stretch.
“It’ll be business as usual,” Fisher said.
“We don’t have a super deep roster really, so most people [have] to play anyways.”
Fisher added that in Canada West “anybody can beat anybody” and the plan will be to “take it game by game” in net.
Taraschuk has played in 18 of Manitoba’s 21 games in the 2018-19 season, while backups Erin Fargey and Devan Johnson have seen action in 3 and 2 games, respectively.
The Bisons and Cougars will be back in action today at the Wayne Fleming Arena. Puck drop is at 4 p.m. CST.
