Vancouver, BC - For a second straight night the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team defeated the Alberta Pandas 2-1. However, on this night the Thunderbirds would need a shootout to earn the two points and improve to 5-2-1 on the season, while Alberta falls to 4-2-2.
Danielle Lemon was the difference on the night making 30 saves between the pipes for UBC, including seven in overtime, however, in an unique move by head coach Graham Thomas, he replaced Lemon with Danielle Dube for the shootout and she came in and stopped both shooters she faced.Â
Just like Friday night the Pandas opened the scoring 1:52 into the second period as Jayden Skoye beat Lemon for her fourth goal of the season to put the visitors in front 1-0. UBC would respond with just under five minutes left in the frame as Tatiana Rafter scored her Canada West leading seventh goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Neither team generated many opportunities in the third period and as a result overtime was needed. That is where the Thunderbirds neither gave it away. They were forced to kill off two Alberta power plays. The Pandas managed seven shots, but Lemon stood tall stopping them all and sending the game to a shootout.
In the shootout both Chrisit Capozzi and Rafter scored for UBC, while Tess Houston and Katie Stewart were stopped by Dube giving the Thunderbirds the 2-1 victory.
Rafter and teammate Sarah Casorso now share the Canada West scoring lead with 10 points apiece through eight games of the season.
Next weekend the 'Birds hit the road to take on the Mount Royal Cougars (2-6-0) for a two-game series in Calgary beginning Friday November 1.
