The University of British Columbia Athletics

Vancouver, BC - In a rematch of last year's Canada West final the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team blanked the Calgary Dinos 4-0 in their regular season home opener Friday night at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
 
Showing absolute dominance in the first period, UBC jumped out to  a three-goal advantage over the Dinos before the first intermission, and due to the resilience of netminder Danielle Lemon they would carry through to the end of the game without allowing a single goal.

Head coach Graham Thomas was happy with the end result, making note that he saw a lot of positives during the game. He was especially impressed by his team's play in the first period, but was overall satisfied.
 
"As a whole we had a better game, we had better energy, we were moving the puck well."
 


Some noteworthy achievements by individual Thunderbirds in the game included the first career CIS win as well as the first career CIS shutout for Danielle Lemon, and the first career CIS goal by first-year Melissa Goodwin. The game also marked captain Christi Capozzi's 100th career regular season game in a Thunderbirds uniform.
 

After a scoreless opening 15 minutes UBC would kick in to high gear in the final five minutes, scoring three goals. 
 
The first of the three came from a wraparound by Tatiana Rafter off a play set up by Sarah Casorso and Nicole Saxvik.
 
Almost immediately following, Nicole Saxvik sprung forward Stephanie Schaupmeyer on a break and she beat Dinos netminder Amanda Tapp to put the Thunderbirds in front 2-0.
 
The third goal was another from Rafter on the man-advantage, as her backhand went off a Dinos defenseman and in. Nikola Brown-John assisted on the play. 3-0 was the lead through 20 minutes.
 
In the second period, UBC produced a fourth goal when Melissa Goodwin masterfully tipped a hard shot by Sarah Casorso directly past the unsuspecting Calgary goaltender, Amanda Tapp. Goodwin's goal was her first in a Thunderbird jersey.
 
Desperate to dig themselves out of a four-goal deficit, the Dinos managed a few close chances to keep the 'Birds on their toes. However, Danielle Lemon was a wall in net, making a number of key saves. She would not waver, and the period would end before the Dinos could muster a goal.
 
The onus was on UBC to maintain their deserving lead entering the third frame, and that was precisely what they did throughout the third.
 
With five minutes remaining in the game, Stephanie Payne was sent to the box on a boarding penalty. Despite firing a number of shots from a distance, the Dinos still could not beat Lemon, who would record the shutout. 4-0 was the final score.

Despite their successful result, Thomas again emphasized his team's need to play a consistent 60 minutes – a shortcoming that has become a bit of a trend over the 'Birds' past few games.
 
"We can't get fixated on the score. If we're going to be one of the top teams in the league we can't take periods off or eam's will bite you."

UBC finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play, while Calgary went 0-for-7.

Lemon stopped all 26 shots she faced for her first carer win and first career shutout.

Thomas commended Lemon in net, whose shutout performance curbed the Dinos. But to be successful in such a competitive league, Thomas noted that his team could not just rely on skillful goaltending.
 
"We all have to contribute. It's a team effort."

These two teams will be back at it again tomorrow afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Puck drop is at 2:00 pm. Prior to the opening faceoff the Thunderbirds will raise the 2013 Canada West Championship banner to the rafters, the first in the program's history.