Lethbridge - The Lethbridge Pronghorns used a dominant first period to defeat the UBC Thunderbirds 4-1 on Saturday night. The win moves the 'Horns to within four points of the Thunderbirds and the Regina Cougars for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Canada West conference.
Lethbridge jumped out to an early lead scoring at the 4:17 mark of the first period when captain Kendal Tremblay's slap shot from the point found its way through traffic and between the legs of
Melinda Choy. The Pronghorns struck again less than a minute later when Brittney Kaye and Shelby Ballendine broke in on Choy, worked the give-and-go then Ballantine fired a low wrist shot passed a prone Choy. The Horns kept the pressure on as Megan Bach beat a T-Bird defender to the puck and came in alone but Choy turn aside the chance to keep the deficit at two for the time being.
Choy's effort would be for naught as Lethbridge would strike again before the first horn. Amy Van Buskirk scored her second goal in as many nights on the powerplay when she went top shelf after corralling a rebound of Choy's. The three goal lead would prove to be enough for the determined home side.
UBC head coach Nancy Wilson was not impressed with her team's effort on Saturday.
"We need to build some consistency in our performances," said Wilson. "We played great against a really strong team in Alberta last week but we didn't bring that same level of effort against Lethbridge. We leave with two points but it was a disappointing effort tonight."
The T-Birds finally got on the scoreboard two minutes after the Horns scored made it 4-0 when
Chelsea Laing's power play snapshot bounced in and out of the glove of McMaster.
Despite controlling the play for the better part of the final two frames the Thunderbirds could not find the net again. Their best chance came on a mad scramble in the Lethbridge crease with Kailey McMaster out of position.
Jenny Mahovlich an open net but a desperate McMaster stretched her left pad to preserve the Horns' three goal lead.
UBC doubled up the Horns in shots on goal in the third, outshooting Lethbridge by a 12-6 total.
The Horns victory improves their record to 4-9-3 on season while the T-Birds drop to 7-10-1 on the year. The T-Birds next action is back in Vancouver as they are set for a weekend series against the Manitoba Bisons on January 29 & 30. Games will be held at the George Preston Arena in Langley, BC as the Thunderbirds vacate their home rink in favour of preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games.
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