The UBC Thunderbirds surpassed their 2011-12 season point total in just their fifth game on Friday night, shutting out Lethbridge 1-0.
The victory moves UBC to 2-1-2, good for six points and third place in the Canada West conference, just a season removed from a 1-21-2 last place finish.
The quick turnaround is stark, with this year's team playing much more cohesive hockey than in recent years. Part of the credit is likely due to an increased confidence growing in the dressing room thanks to the early success, and head coach
Graham Thomas is quick to point out the positives in the mental aspects of the game.
“A lot of games are going to be hard fought, close games like this,” said Thomas. “Lethbridge put on pressure, and tonight I was impressed with our composure and our discipline.”
The Thunderbirds were backstopped by
Danielle Dube (Vancouver, BC), who was appearing in her third game of the year. Dube kept up her stellar play with the 22-save shutout, which included multiple saves on back-to-back Lethbridge powerplays in the second period. The shutout is Dube's second of the young season and improves her goals against average to 1.34 with a save percentage of .958. Both of those marks are among the best in the conference.
The game was a hard fought defensive battle for both teams, with UBC pressuring for the first half of the game and Lethbridge threatening to tie the game for the second half.
A first period with 14 Thunderbird shots on net also had the game's lone goal, as
Tatiana Rafter (Winnipeg, MB) scored her third of the season, assisted by
Rebecca Unrau (Humboldt, SK). The linemates have now combined for 10 points through five games, proving a potent combination for Coach Thomas.
“They're playing well,” Thomas admitted. “They're both skilled players and right now they have some good chemistry.”
Later in the game, Lethbridge asserted and maintained pressure, outshooting UBC 16-14 in the final two frames. However, some untimely penalties halted the Pronghorns' momentum. In the end, Dube and the UBC defense managed to withstand the Lethbridge attack and hang on for the narrow one-goal victory.
Thomas indicated that, even with the early success, there are things to work on.
“We don't want to get overconfident,” explained Thomas. “We have to learn as a team to capitalize on opportunities when we have teams back on their heels.”
UBC gets another chance to improve tomorrow as the Pronghorns and Thunderbirds do battle again, squaring off at 6:00 p.m. local time at Nicholas Sheran Arena.
