VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds (5-8-1) came into the new year on a four-game winning streak but that run came to end last weekend after they suffered a pair of close losses (1-3, 2-3) to the Regina Cougars. The T-Birds now have the tough task of trying to bounce back from that weekend as they host the first-place and no. 3 ranked Alberta Pandas (16-0-0).
The pair of losses dropped UBC from the fourth and final playoff spot in the Canada West to fifth overall, three points back of the Cougars. Despite the setback, UBC head coach Nancy Wilson had this to say after the 3-2 loss on Saturday.
"Both nights I thought we played well enough to win, we just weren't able to finish. That has been the story for us all season and is something we are going to need to address. I thought we played really hard and we will have to try and build on the positives as we go forward this season."
The T-Birds and Pandas square-off Friday and Saturday night at Father Bauer Arena (7:30 p.m.) in what will be the T-Birds final games at home this season. UBC hosts Saskatchewan on January 29 and 30, however, due to preparations for the 2010 Olympic Games at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre those contests will be held at the George Preston Arena in Langley.
A look at the Thunderbirds
Coming into this weekend, the T-Birds will be trying to expunge the memory of their road trip to Regina. UBC fell behind early in the first game and wasn't able to close the gap, however, on Saturday night they jumped out to a 2-1 before a pair of goals late in the second sent them to the loss.
Chelsea Laing had both goals in the second game and now has five points on the season.
Tamara Pickford notched an assist over the weekend and leads the team with 13 points (four goals, nine assists). Linemate
Lisa Bonang has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) this year and that duo ranks tied for 9th and 15th respectively in league scoring.
Goalie
Melinda Choy has played all 14 games this season for the T-Birds and has a 2.68 GAA and .893 save percentage.
A look at the Pandas
Alberta remained undefeated with a pair of victories over the Calgary Dinos last weekend, squeaking out a 2-1 win in Calgary before easily trumping the Dinos 6-1 in Edmonton the following night. The first-place Pandas have been a dominant force this season and have scored 70 goals while allowing just 11.
Standouts Tarin Podloski and Leah Copeland rank 1-2 in CW scoring. Podloski leads the league in goals (16) and ranks second in assists (14) for 40 points. Copeland tops the league in assists with 18 and has 26 points in 2009-10. The Pandas have thee others ranked in the top 10 in CW scoring including defenceman Stephanie Ramsey who leads all rearguards with 13 points (five goals, eight assists).
Netminder Dana Vinge has played in all but one game this season and sports a gaudy 0.80 GAA and 0.950 thanks in large part to her six shutouts so far this year.
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