Files U of C Sports Information
CALGARY – Riding a 39 save performance by
Melinda Choy, the UBC Thunderbirds never let go of a first period lead on their way to beating the University of Calgary Dinos 3-2 Friday night at the Olympic Oval.
"It was a really good win. A satisfying win because our game plan was to put pressure on their defence and take away time and space while playing a full 60 minutes of hockey, which something we've struggled with this year," Said UBC head coach Nancy Wilson. "Our girls executed our systems tonight better than I have ever seen."
UBC got on the board first, finding the back of the net with their second shot just 2:15 into the game. That goal was the result of a drive into the Calgary slot by first-year UBC forward
Lauren Ruggiero. Ruggiero's initial chance from in front of the net was turned away by a diving effort from Dinos netminder Amanda Tapp before
Emily Grainger put away the rebound.
Trying to make up for the lackluster start, the Dinos came out in the second with much more intensity. That intensity would be met with disappointment as UBC converted first at 11:15 of the frame.
Tamara Pickford potted home a puck from a scrum in front with
Lisa Bonang and
Alisha Choy notching assists on the marker that gave the T-Birds a 2-0 lead.
The Dinos responded immediately, converting 23 seconds later off a face-off. Hayley Wickenheiser drove towards the net before offloading to rookie forward Jenna Smith in the slot, who pocketed her first CIS goal.
The Dinos followed that effort with a breakaway by Elana Lovell on the next play that saw Lovell ring one off the crossbar, inches short of tying the game.
The flurry of activity in the middle of the second would continue into the twelfth minute when UBC earned a 3-1 lead.
Wickenheiser got caught up with the official when trying to break out of the zone and as they both went to the ice, the puck spewed free causing a two-on-one chance for UBC forwards
Chelsea Laing and
Kaitlin Imai. Imai took the initial shot that rocketed straight down off the crossbar before being stuffed in the net by Laing.
After the goal, Wickenheiser received a 10 minute misconduct penalty for arguing with the official about the outcome of the entanglement with the lineman.
The third period saw much of the same intensity from the Dinos and much of the same skill from Choy. The only blemish on the T-Bird 'minder's record for that frame came after Wickenheiser came out of the box and began terrorizing UBC's forwards. Wickenheiser set up the Dinos' second goal at 16:04 in the third while on the power play by ripping a shot from the point that bounced off the boards behind the net before being stuffed in by Dinos captain Cait O'Hara.
Despite a final, desperate, push the Dinos couldn't solve Choy, resulting in a 3-2 loss in their first game of the weekend.
The Dinos get another swing at the 'Birds tomorrow night as the two teams will meet again on the Olympic Oval ice with a 7:30 p.m. puck-drop.
-30-
