Lethbridge, AB - The UBC Thunderbirds exploded for nine goals, including four shorthanded goals Friday night, in a convincing 9-2 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns, snapping the team's five game losing skid.
Luke Lockhart led the way offensively, setting a Canada West record, scoring three shorthanded goals in one game. He also tied another Canada West record with two shorthanded goals in one period.
Ben Schmidt chipped in with two goals of his own, while
Neil Manning and
Cole Wilson each had three assists.
UBC"s four shorthanded in one game were one shy of the Canada West record.
The first period began with dynamic offensive play, as both teams tallied multiple shots on goal within the first two minutes alone. UBC's first real opportunity came four minutes into play as
Nick Buonassisi tore down the ice on a breakaway, but Lethbridge goalie Dylan Tate made a huge save to keep the game scoreless.
Just over nine minutes into the opening period first-year forward
Luke Lockhart opened the scoring while shorthanded. He would not be done there, beating Tate for a second time shorthanded with just under two minutes remaining to give the Thunderbirds a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes of play.
UBC didn't waste anytime adding to its lead in the second period.
Joe Antilla potted his fifth goal of the season 42 seconds into the period. It would be the first of six goals in the period for UBC.
Greg Fraser scored the 'Birds third shorthanded goal of the game on a breakaway less than three minutes later to extend the lead to 4-0 prompting Damien Ketlo to replace Dylan Tate in goal for the 'Horns. Shortly thereafter,
Anthony Bardaro beat Ketlo to solidify UBC's lead at 5-0.
Thunderbird Captain
Ben Schmidt contributed UBC's sixth goal of the night five and a half minutes into the second, tallying UBC's fourth goal in five minutes of play.
The 'Horns finally responded when Cass Mappin's slapshot beat
Steven Stanford to get the homeside on the board.
However, UBC would quickly regain their momentum courtesy of Lockhart, who completed the unlikely shorthanded hat trick, putting the Thunderbirds in front 7-1.
Brock Hirsche scored for Lethbridge to cut the lead to 7-2 before
Scott MacDonald rounded out the scoring in the second period with his fourth goal of the season to give UBC a commnading 8-2 lead through 40 minutes.
Schmidt would add his second goal of the night in the third period to make it a 9-2 final.
The final shots were 47-31 in favour of UBC.
Stanford made 29 saves for the win as the Thunderbirds improved to 4-10-1 on the year, while the Pronghorns fell to 1-13-1.
The Thunderbirds finished the night 2-for-3 on the man advantage, while Lethbridge was 0-for-7 giving up four shorthanded markers.
Tomorrow night UBC will look for the weekend series sweep as puck drop is at 6:00 pm PST in Lethbridge and can be seen live on
canadawest.tv.
