VANCOUVER – On Friday evening against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, the Thunderbirds women's hockey team met their first competitor of regular season play, launching their campaign to defend their title as Canada West champions. And the 'Birds did not disappoint.

Despite having trailed the Pronghorns for half of the game, the Thunderbirds would pull off the impossible and recover from a three-goal deficit in what would be a remarkable regular season debut.
 
Lethbridge defender Katie Mucha would open the scoring in the very first minute of play to give her team the edge early on, however the Thunderbirds hustled to keep pace with their opponent.
 
Sadie Lenstra would put Lethbridge two goals ahead early in the second.
 
After a stretch of fairly even-handed and fast-paced play, UBC was finally able to get on the scoreboard with a crafty unsuspecting shot by Nicole Saxvik behind the net that would sneak through Pronghorn netminder Shauntelle Williams. Stephanie Schaupmeyer aided with the assist.
 
Leading UBC by only a goal, the Pronghorns also managed a sneak play behind the net that would edge past Thunderbird goalie Danielle Dube in the last minute of the second frame.
 
Midway through the third, a sharp shot from the point slipped through the legs of Dube, and it seemed as if the Pronghorns were about to run away with it.
 
But lo-and-behold, the Thunderbirds responded fervently – Tatiana Rafter scored two consecutive goals with one assist off Jenna Carpenter-Boesch, narrowing Lethbridge's lead by only a goal yet again.
 
In what seemed like an unlikely feat at the beginning of the third, the T-Birds closed the gap when Stephanie Schaupmeyer scored their fourth and equalizing goal with just under four minutes remaining. Suddenly, momentum had swung in UBC's favour and the 'Birds had taken command of the puck, containing it to the Pronghorns' zone.
 
Regulation would draw to a close with the two teams even at four goals apiece.
 
UBC came thundering into the first overtime with a second wind of agility and fervour, putting Lethbridge's defensive skills to the test.
 
A sudden offensive push by Lethbridge momentarily put UBC into a panic, but the skillful positioning of netminder Dube kept the 'Birds in the game, who made 40 saves by the end of 60 minutes.
 
Neither team would score in overtime, leaving the game to be decided by a shootout. Pronghorn Megan Bailey was the sole shooter to score for her team, while UBC would come away with the victory following two successful shots put in by Tatiana Rafter and Christi Capozzi.
 
The Thunderbirds and Pronghorns will meet again same time (6 p.m. Pacific), same place tomorrow for the second of the two-game series.