VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team was shutout 4-0 in Lethbridge tonight in Canada West regular season action.
BOXSCORE
With the win, the Pronghorns moved into a second place tie in the Canada West.
Rookies Sadie Lenstra and Kirsten Reeves led the scoring for Lethbridge, each earning three points on the night. Lenstra scored two goals while Reeves and teammate Chelsea Minor added the other two for the 'Horns.
Lethbridge net-minder, Crystal Patterson, registered her second consecutive shutout (fifth of the season), stopping all 24 shots she faced, while UBC's
Samantha Langford (1st, Pense, SK) stopped 28 of 32.
"We played well even strength but struggled on specialty teams, especially penalty killing," said UBC head coach Jen Rawson. "We gave ourselves opportunities to score, but again couldn't capitalize. We just made too many mistakes that were within our control. Mental errors cost us tonight."
The hometown 'Horns came out flying and it was a literally a matter of seconds before Lenstra opened the scoring, driving through the middle and sneaking the puck in low, past an unsuspecting Langford, only 19-seconds in.
The T-Birds struggled to generate many offensive chances and as the first period drew to a close, the shots on goal dramatically favored the home team, 13-5.
UBC found life in the second and after a relatively quiet first frame, Lethbridge net-minder, Crystal Patterson, would be put to the test; facing 9 shots from the surging T-Birds who were eager to even things up at one a piece.
Building on her impressive rookie campaign, Reeves, had other plans. Fighting to maintain position on the doorstep, her initial scoring chance was swiftly denied by the keeper, but her tenacity paid off, as she corralled the loose puck and buried her fifth of the season, making it 2-0 'Horns.
Riding the momentum of the second goal and looking to break away, the 'Horns wouldn't let up offensively and would capitalize on both of their power play opportunities in the third. Taking a pass from lead scorer Shelby Ballendine, Minor would find the back of the net at 9:08, while Lenstra would add her second of the night, under a minute later, beating Langford stick to increase the differential to four.
UBC drops to 1-10-2, with the team's only win coming against Lethbridge earlier this season.
With this win, the Pronghorns continue their resurgence in the conference, improving to 9-4-0 and tied for second in a three-way battle with Calgary Dinos and Saskatchewan Huskies for second behind the Alberta Pandas.
Game two of the weekend series goes tomorrow night with the opening faceoff at 6:00 p.m.
The game will also be streamed online at www.canadawest.tv
- with files from Eoin Colquhoun (Lethbridge Sports Information Director)
