After getting the early jump on the Battlefords Northstars and leading 2-0 after 20 minutes, the Terriers gave up 3 straight goals to drop game 1 of the Anavet Cup 3-2.
Portage struck first and early with a tic tac toe play from Poirier and Funk to Roy who beat Grzybowski glove side.
Portage doubled their lead late in the first with Roy notching his 2nd of the game finding the back of the net from the ringette line.
The Northstars scored a minute into the 2nd, Moore making the initial save, but unable to clear the puck Esau got his team on the board.
The Terriers lead would hold after forty minutes, but they weren`t playing with the same intensity and Battleford was getting more pucks in deep.
5:41 into the third Scott Mickoski picked up a controversial minor for unsportsmanlike conduct for shooting the puck on net after the whistle blew for offside.
On the powerplay Sinclair tied the game scoring backdoor on Moore.
It looked like the game was headed to overtime when Ryan Gil scored the game winner trailing on the odd man rush and potting his first of the series.
Portage outshot Battleford 31-18 and went 0/4 on the powerplay.
Both teams will be back at it tomorrow at Stride Place for Game 2, puck drop is 7:30pm. Game sponsor Roquette