LETHBRIDGE, AB - The UBC Thunderbirds lost 4-1 in Lethbridge on Saturday night in Canada West regular season women's hockey action, dropping both games of a weekend series in southern Alberta.
Lethbridge moved in to a first place tie in the conference with the victory.
Sarah Casorso (1st, Kelowna, BC) earned the lone goal for the Thunderbirds.
Pronghorns' goals were scored by Erica Williams, Kirsten Reeves and Megan Bach, who contributed two on the night.
BOXSCORE
UBC net-minder
Samantha Langford (1st, Pense, SK) stopped 31 of 35 shots while Lethbridge's Crystal Patterson made 26 saves.
A Lethbridge power play opportunity in the opening minutes of play saw Williams earn her first CIS goal, skillfully beating Langford. Williams corralled loose rebound after captain Beattie's shot from the slot was turned aside by the quick reflexes of the keeper.
Heading into the first intermission, the visiting T-Birds found themselves in an all-too-familiar position, struggling to generate offensive chances, as the shots on goal favored the Pronghorns 13-4.
Midway through the second frame, a turnover at center ice was controlled by fifth-year forward, Megan Bach, whose powerful strides were no match for the defense, as she broke away and dangled the puck to her backhand to beat Langford stick-side.
Less than a minute later, UBC put an end to Patterson's shutout streak that had reached over 156 minutes, as Casorso's shot found the back of the net at 9:05, making it a 2-1 game.
Shots through two were dead even, 7-7, and despite an aggressive fore-check by the visiting T-Birds and some late scoring chances by the hometown 'Horns, both goaltenders would stand tall and keep the game to within one.
UBC's struggle to earn the elusive game-tying goal was fraught with close chances, as
Kaylee Chanakos' (4th, Nanaimo, BC) quick moves through the slot and
Tatiana Rafter's (2nd, Winnipeg, MB) solid follow-up effort on the doorstep were both denied by Patterson, who faced 15 shots in the third.
With under ten minutes remaining, the 'Horns found themselves with a 5-on-3 powerplay that would set the pace for the rest of the game. Taking a hard pass in front from Glenda Edie, Reeves would add to her 3-point weekend, knocking the puck past Langford, who was unable to get into position.
Pushing the pace in the final minutes of play, Bach would add to the 'Horns lead, earning her second of the game, from Hopkins and Van Buskirk, at 15:57.
The T-Birds fall to 1-11-2 and will have to wait until January 13th before they see their next conference action, traveling to Regina to face the Cougars.
With the win the 'Horns head into the semester break tied with the Saskatchewan Huskies atop the Canada West standings at 10-4-0 and will return to action in the New Year, January 6th, traveling to Saskatoon for a showdown between the conference leading teams.
