The University of British Columbia Athletics

Regina, Sk - The UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team earned a weekend split with the University of Regina defeating the Cougars 3-2 Saturday night in Regina. With the win UBC improves to 3-2-1 on the season, while the Cougars suffer their first loss of the season and now sit at 5-1-0. 

Off the draw, back-and-forth action dominated much of the play throughout the first period between the UBC Thunderbirds and the Regina Cougars in the second of the two-game series. Returning from a 2-0 shutout loss the night prior, UBC looked to set the tone in the opening period.
 
Taking advantage of a turnover in Regina's zone, Nicole Saxvik took a feed from Tatiana Rafter and made no mistake, scoring the 'Birds first goal of the weekend. UBC led 1-0 through 20 minutes of play.
 
Pressure from both sides despite a lower number of shots kept up the energy in the second frame. The Cougars began to take the upperhand of possession, evidently re-energized returning from the break.
 
But on a powerplay midway through the period, Rafter found herself all alone in the slot and went high glove side, scoring her team leading fifth goal of the season and securing a two-goal lead for her team.
 
The Cougars would cut the lead on a power play of their own less then five minutes later. Bailey Braden beat Danielle Lemon to make it a 2-1 game.
 
However, just 52 seconds later, good patience by Rafter would beat Toni Ross in net and tally her second goal of the night and sixth goal of the season putting UBC in front 3-1 after two periods.

Merely 30 seconds into the third frame, an early jump by the Cougars resulted in a goal off the stick Stephanie Sawchuk. Now with Regina trailing UBC by only a goal, it was anyone's game.
 
The Cougars would pull their goalie with just over a minute remaining, and with an extra attacker on the ice they would apply furious pressure in the Thunderbird zone. A late save by UBC goalkeeper Danielle Lemon behind a crowded zone would be as close as Regina would get to equalizing the score, and the 'Birds would deal the Cougars their first loss of the season with a 3-2 win.
 
UBC would go 1-for-3 on powerplay, and Regina 1-for-4.
 
In net for the Thunderbirds, Lemon stopped 28 of 30 shots she faced for her second victory of the season, while , and Ross made 19 saves in the Cougars net.
 
Rafter finished the night with two goals and an assist and now leads the Canada West in scoring with six goals and nine points through the first six games of the season.
 
Coming up next week, the 'Birds return home to face the University of Alberta on Friday and Saturday night at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.