VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds outshot the Iowa State Cyclones 41-16 en route to a 5-4 comeback win at the Dough Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. The T-Birds gave up an early 3-0 lead, but came charging back, allowing just seven shots over the final 40 minutes, putting the game on ice with
Ben Schmidt's third period game-winner.
Halfway through the third and down by a trio of goals, the Blue and Gold hit the scoreboard when
Matt Wray put a shot through a screen to make it 3-1. Wray came into the game having seen limited action in 2010-11, but the first year forward was determined to make good on his chance to prove himself in a non-conference game.
Tyler Ruel was next to light lamp, again beating Iowa State goalie Erik Hudson through a crowd, with UBC forward
Scott Wasden drawing the assist.
Moments later, Wasden again figured into the comeback, this time scoring the tying goal to conclude a beautiful passing play. Wasden took a feed from
Wyatt Hamilton and skated down the left wing, across the crease past Hudson, and finally sliding the puck home to make it 3-3.
There were moments in the night when the Blue and Gold seemed to underestimate their American visitors, whose speed and determination kept them close despite the lopsided offensive zone chances.
First year forward and heavy hitter,
Mike Liambas gave the 'Birds their first lead of the night, firing a laserbeam of a wristshot into the top corner glove side on a rush into the Iowa StateIowa State zone. Liambas has quickly become a crowd favorite this season due to his gritty play, but has shown some offensive upside as well.
The Cyclones tied the game once more on a scramble in front of UBC goalie
Joe Rodwell, who came into the game at the midway point in relief of
Graeme Gordon. David Kurbatsky was the Iowa State goal-scorer on the play.
In the end, it was
Ben Schmidt potting the winning goal for UBC with just under six minutes left. Schmidt came in one-on-one and put a move on the Cyclones defender before beating Hudson five-hole to put the perfect cap on another hard-working effort from the first year player.
Other Iowa State goal-scorers were Kyle Van, James Werner, and Mike Lebler, who opened the scoring in the first 30 seconds of the first period.
The Thunderbirds are back in action on December 3 and 4 for their final series before the CIS winter break, hitting the road for a pair of crucial games against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, who sit just two points below UBC in the Canada West Standings.
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