EDMONTON – Fighting for a higher playoff seed, the Alberta Pandas earned a 2-1 win over the MacEwan Griffins, Friday night at the Downtown Community Arena. 

MacEwan drops to 6-11-0, remaining four points behind Regina for the final post-season spot now with just one game in hand. With the win, Alberta improves to 10-5-2.

2020 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year Madison Willan continued her hot play of late, scoring the game-winner for her third-straight game with a goal. 

Mackenzie Dachuk opened the scoring for the Griffins 11:42 into the first period on just MacEwan's second shot of the game. Jayme Doyle won a battle for the puck on the wall and chipped it to Dachuk, who went in alone and beat Alberta's Halle Oswald blocker side.

Alberta tied the contest before the first period was done, though, as Natalie Kieser, parked perfectly in the slot, buried Payton Laumbach's one-time pass from behind the net on a 5-on-3 powerplay.

Willan netted the winner at 14:57 of the second period, pouncing on a rebound off Laumbach's shot and squeaking it past a sprawled Bender from a sharp angle.

MacEwan had a few good chances to tie it in the third period – including Hailey Maurice finding herself in alone down low with five minutes left – but they were unable to beat Oswald again. She finished with 16 saves for the visitors, while Bender stopped 26 in her final home game as a Griffin.

The teams will meet again on Saturday (7 p.m., Clare Drake, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).