LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – After being held scoreless the previous four games, the Lethbridge Pronghorns exploded for four goals, nearly doubling their season output and earned their first win of the season 4-2 over the UBC Thunderbirds.
The Horns improve to 1-7-1 and with the loss the T-Birds fall to 3-3-1. The Horns power play proved to be the difference, finishing 3-for-5, while the T-Birds went 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
"It was a pretty disappointing loss in that we gave up three power play goals. Our penalty kill has been so good during the year but tonight it was just not sharp," said UBC head coach Nancy Wilson.
The play of 'Horns freshman goalie Crystal Patterson was stellar in earning her first career Canada West win, turning aside 33 of 35 UBC shots.
"We had our chances but I don't want to take anything away from their goalie's performance. We had our opportunities but she played really well tonight," added Wilson.
The Thunderbirds hit the scoreboard first off a nicely deflected point shot. Deep in the Horns slot,
Tamara Pickford redirected
Kelsey Halvorson's shot from the blueline up and over the shoulder of Horns Patterson.
The Horns answered right back. Shelby Ballendine broke in alone off the right wing, out waiting UBC keeper
Melinda Choy and tucking it into the far corner.
Both teams continued the cautious play into the second frame, but the Horns got their first lead on a power play. Playing her first game in three weeks due to injury, Horns forward Brittney Kaye poked home a rebound from a goal mouth scramble just under eight and a half minutes into the period.
Off another power play, the Horns doubled their lead at 14:20 of the middle frame. Meagan Bailey tapped a rebound between Choy's legs before she was able to get her glove down.
During a 5 on 3 power play, the Horns struck for the third time with the man advantage when Kaye found Jenna Marie-Durnin back door for a tap in to put the Horns up 4-1 early in the third.
Coming out of the penalty box,
Alisha Choy was sent in all alone but Patterson stood tall to turn her away and preserve the three goal cushion.
With just over five minutes remaining,
Tatiana Rafter walked out of the corner and buried her shot top corner to cut the Horns lead back to two but that was all UBC could muster in their comeback attempt despite a healthy shot advantage - 35 to 18.
The Horns and T-Birds complete the weekend series tomorrow afternoon. Puck drop is at 1 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
