The Southwest Cougars gave the Manitoba “AAA” Midget Hockey League's top team all they could handle Friday night Beausejour.

Brad Goethals scored the winning goal late in the third period to lift the Eastman Selects past the Cougars 3-2 in game one of their best-of-five quarterfinal.

Goethals, who led the league with 41 goals and 74 points, beat Southwest goaltender Rylan Rommelaere with 1:37 remaining in regulation.

Braeden Binda had the other two Selects goals.

Jared McCorrister and Grady Hobbs replied for the Cougars.

Rommelaere stopped 31 of 32 shots after replacing Brady Gordon.

Gordon got the hook from head coach Dennis McNish after giving up Binda's second goal of the night just 4:49 into the first period.

Eastman netminder Landon Poiron faced 27 shots.

Game two goes Sunday (7 p.m.) in Souris with game three set for Tuesday, March 1st back in Beausejour.