The UBC Thunderbirds (1-2-0) were up early but couldn't hold on against Lethbridge (2-3-0), losing 2-1 to the Pronghorns on Friday night at Thunderbird Arena.
Kaitlin Imai got the T-Birds off to a good start with a goal midway through the first period. The 'Birds were outshot 14-6 in the frame but goalie
Melinda Choy held her ground, preserving a 1-0 UBC lead heading into the first break.
It looked as if the 'Birds would have a third period lead to work with but Rochelle Radke got the Pronghorns on the board with less than a minute left in the second.
The two sides were deadlocked at one until Dayna Janzen put the visitors out in front with just over six minutes to go. The Lethbridge defence was able to lock down T-Bird shooters in the late going, holding UBC to just four shots in the third period.
Lethbridge goalie Kailey McMaster made 20 saves to pick up the win. Choy stopped 24 of the 26 shots she faced and was named the game's second star.
The T-Birds will be at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre again on Saturday night to wrap up their series with Lethbridge at 7:30 p.m. The 'Birds head out on the road next week to take on Manitoba, while Lethbridge returns home to host Saskatchewan.
