VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (0-1-0) were unable to overcome a shaky start in their home opener, as the Calgary Dinos (1-0-0) managed to hold on for a 3-1 win on Friday night at Father Bauer Arena.
The T-Birds controlled the tempo for much of the game on Friday, but the Dinos were able to capitalize on a pair of UBC mistakes.
Tanya Morgan scored Calgary's first CIS regular season goal since 2002, the last year the Dinos played in the Canada West before moving to the Alberta Collegiate Athletic Conference. Midway through the first, Rebecca Niehaus' pass hit a skate in the crease and UBC goalie
Melinda Choy lost track of the puck amongst the scrum in front of the net. Morgan managed to corral the loose puck at the side of the net and bang it home before the T-Bird defence could recover.
"I thought that we really carried the play but we got off to too slow of a start," said UBC head coach Nancy Wilson. "We looked really scared in the first period. Like we were afraid to make mistakes with the puck."
Timid play cost the T-Birds another goal in the second period, as they were unable to clear the defensive zone during a series of Dinos chances.
First Danielle Boyce rung a shot off the crossbar from the left circle, and Calaine Inglis was on waiting on the doorstep but Choy did well to get across the crease to make the save. Inglis was able to gather her own rebound however, and she took the puck around the back of the net and centered for Elana Lovell, who one-timed it past a helpless Choy.
The T-Birds continued to push hard for some offence but couldn't find their rhythm in the attacking zone. Neither team was able to register a shot in the third period until
Tamara Pickford's wrap-around attempt was foiled by Dinos goalie Jessica Ross nearly ten minutes into the frame. That shot led to UBC's only tally of the night however, as
Serina Swanson was there to poke the rebound home and bring her side within one.
The T-Birds couldn't muster any last-minute magic however, and Rebecca Niehaus picked up an empty-netter for Calgary on a shot from inside her own blue line.
UBC out-shot Calgary 18-15 and held the Dinos to just three shots in the final period.
"I was pleased with the last half of the game but certainly not with the first half," said Wilson. "It was the first game of the season and it's at home so I think we felt a little bit of pressure in the beginning, but now its over and done with and we can move on."
The T-Birds and Dinos will wrap up their series on Saturday at Thunderbird Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.
