SASKATOON, Sask. - Clara Juca stopped all 20 shots she faced, backstopping the University of Saskatchewan Huskies to a 3-0 shutout victory over the visiting Regina Cougars Friday night (Dec. 5) at Merlis Belsher Place. 

Juca's first star performance was complimented by a strong offensive showing from Saskatchewan against their intraprovincial rivals in what was the third U-Prairie Challenge matchup of the season. Shelby Williamson, Kaysah Nurani and Kahlen Wisener netted one goal each for the Dogs while six other Saskatchewan skaters chipped in with one assist apiece. 

After splitting their first two meetings of the season, the win improves the Huskies' record to 7-6, moving them three points ahead of the Cougars (5-7) in the Canada West East Division standings as the two teams sit back-to-back at third and fourth. 

From the opening puck drop, it was Saskatchewan that set the pace offensively, outshooting Regina 11-3 through the first fifteen, but failing to find the scoresheet. However, the Huskies would eventually earn the game's first powerplay opportunity after Regina's Quinn McLaren was sent off for roughing late in the frame. With the Huskies' power play unit on the ice, the Dogs would break the deadlock after Williamson tipped home a point shot from McKenna Bolger, giving Saskatchewan the early advantage. 

Entering the second, the Huskies were hungry to add to their lead. Just before the midway point of the second, Nurani collected the puck behind the Cougars' net, stopped and cut back to the opposite side before jamming the puck off a Regina defenders' skate, doubling the Dogs' lead. Physically picked up in the back half of the frame with the game seeing three Huskies' and two Cougars sent to the box. Despite the flurry of powerplay opportunities, neither side's offensive special teams could capitalize as Saskatchewan maintained their two-goal lead after forty minutes. 

Sensing an opportunity to climb back above .500 on the season, the Dogs wasted little time in the third adding to their total. Just five minutes into the period, Peppi Virtanen's pass in front would find Wisener in the slot and the third-year Winnipeg product made no mistake, riffling a shot past Cougars' netminder Natalie Williamson for her fourth of the season. Despite surrendering three goals, Williamson turned in a formidable performance, making 27 saves in the loss. Regina would earn a pair of powerplay chances late in the frame, but the Saskatchewan backline held firm on the penalty kill to preserve the shutout victory. 

With one game remaining before the Christmas break, the Huskies and Cougars will rest and reload for game two tomorrow night (Dec. 6) in Regina. Puck drop is set for 7:00PM.