VANCOUVER - For the second straight night, the UBC Thunderbirds and the Regina Cougars headed into extra time to decide the game. This time it was Regina coming out on top with a 4-3 win thanks to Paige Wheeler's overtime goal. The result continues the T-Birds early-season trend of winning on Friday and losing on Saturday, which they've done each weekend thus far.
Most disappointing is that the 'Birds gave up a 3-0 lead heading into the third period. UBC head coach Nancy Wilson was understandably frustrated.
“We're ahead 3-0, outshooting them 24-12 heading into the third period and we lose 4-3. That's a complete breakdown,” she fumed. “We were sitting back and they were able to own the neutral zone and put pressure on our defence, which hadn't happened all night. We folded.”
One of Regina's most dangerous forwards, Wheeler potted the winning goal on a breakaway in overtime. Streaking in, she went to her backhand and put the puck top shelf to earn a split for the weekend.
It was a continuation of the third period, where the Cougars found some momentum and punished the 'Birds with a trio of goals, two of them on the powerplay. The second coming from sniper Rianne Wight, whose backhander from in close squeezed through
Melinda Choy's pads to tie the game with less than a minute left.
“We took two undisciplined penalties in the third period,” said Wilson. “We need to have better character. We need to finish a game that we own for two periods. This just can't happen.
“The first two periods were some of the best hockey we've played all year,”
continued Wilson, “but the third period was definitely the worst we've played all year.”
The Blue and Gold got off to a hot start, opening the scoring 20 seconds into the first period when
Tatiana Rafter took the puck to the front of the net and put one past Lisa Urban.
In the second period,
Kaylee Chanakos scored the prettiest goal of the year when she skated in from the Regina blueline, weaving through three Cougars before roofing a shot over Urban's glove to give UBC a 3-0 lead.
Alisha Choy had the final Thunderbirds goal, banking in a centering feed from
Tamara Pickford.
Gina Campbell and Kendra Finch had the first two Cougars goals.
Next up for the 'Birds is a trip to Lethbridge to face the Pronghorns on November 6th and 7th.
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