EDMONTON - First-year Panda Natalie Kieser scored 22 seconds into double overtime, lifting the Pandas to a 2-1 home win over the Mount Royal Cougars, Friday night at Clare Drake Arena.

Pandas goalie Halle Oswald was tremendous, making 29 saves in the victory, with 16 saves coming in the third period and overtime. Madison Willan scored the other Pandas goal late in the second.

Courtney Kollman scored the lone Cougars goal for a team that looked the better side for a majority of Friday night's contest. Zoe De Beaville turned aside 18 of the 20 shots she faced, with next to no chance to make a save on Kieser's scramble goal in the MRU crease in double OT.

After a slow and rusty start, both teams found their legs in the second, with Kollman opening the scoring four minutes in. Her rocket from the circle beat Oswald over the shoulder, kissing the back bar to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. 

Willan, the 2020 Canada West and U SPORTS Rookie of the Year, scored the equalizer with four minutes left in the second. 

The Cougars shelled Oswald in the third, with the third-year Pandas goalie needing to make a handful of acrobatic saves to keep the game tied at 1-1. 

After an uneventful first overtime, Kieser was able to jam in her first career goal early in double overtime, banging in the loose puck in front of the Cougars net. 

The two sides will conclude their season-opening series tomorrow afternoon, with puck drop set for 2:00 p.m. at Clare Drake Arena, and live on Canada West TV presented by Co-Op.