The Westman Wildcats will need to win two elimination games in order to force a fifth and deciding game in the Manitoba Female “AAA” Midget Hockey League final.

Halle Oswald stopped 24 shots as Pembina Valley edged the Wildcats 2-1 Friday night in Morden and now lead the series 2-0.

Westman netminder Jenna Marshall faced 16 shots.

“I liked our effort,” said Wildcats head coach Guy Williams. “I thought we competed hard and battled. The first period their goaltender made some really big saves early on. We pushed and pushed and she responded. Second period they seemed to get things a little under control on their side and in the third period I thought we controlled the play again.”

Sage McElroy-Scott and Hannah Petrie did the goal scoring for the Hawks.

“Our goalie didn't get an opportunity on both their goals. Pucks just landed on peoples sticks and they found a way to get them into the back of the net. We didn't find a way to get ours in the back of the net.”

Alisha O'Hara's goal at 13:46 of the third period tied the game at 1-1 but Petrie potted the go-ahead goal just 88 seconds later.

Game three goes Sunday (2 p.m.) in Hartney.

“We got to play our game and we've got to get shots through,” Williams said. “We've got to generate some quality opportunities. We've got to make their goaltender work for everything she's got and make her uncomfortable in that net.”

Four years ago the Westman Wildcats had three chances to win the Manitoba Female “AAA” Midget Hockey League title.

The Pembina Valley Hawks rallied from that 0-2 series deficit and ended the Wildcats season.

Coach Williams is confident his hockey team has what it takes to get back in this series.

“It can be done,” said Williams. “We went on quite a run this year and a three-game winning streak shouldn't be a problem for us. We just got to get game one.”