The University of British Columbia Athletics

Saskatoon, SK - In game 1 of the Canada West semi-final the UBC women's hockey team lost 2-0 to the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday night in Saskatoon. Game 2 of the best-of-three series is set for tomorrow night when the 'Birds will look to even the series and keep their playoff run alive.

BOX SCORE
 
Saskatchewan's winning goal came six minutes into the second frame when Rachel Johnson tipped in a shot from the point. It would serve to be the backbreaker for UBC despite controlling long spells of play and outshooting the home team by a wide margin, 38-24. The Huskies would add an empty net to make it 2-0 with just over a minute remaining in the game after the 'Birds had pulled netminder Danielle Dube.
 
Cassidy Hendricks was the decisive factor in the Huskies' win, denying all 38 of the T-Birds' shots to secure her first playoff shutout. Hendricks was supplemented by some fearless defending on the part of her teammates who blocked countless shots by the 'Birds. In spite of their hard-fought effort, ultimately the bounces didn't fall in UBC's favour and they were unable to convert on crucial scoring opportunities.
 
"We've got nothing to hang our heads about; we battled and played hard, did everything we could and threw everything at them, but we ran into a [solid] goalie," commented Thunderbirds head coach Graham Thomas. "It was one of those hockey games where the bounces and the luck didn't go our way."
 
The first period was scoreless though UBC looked promising outshooting Saskatchewan 13-7; however, the Huskies did well to keep the Thunderbirds to the outside, stunting their efforts to create plays through the slot.
 
The goal that would go on to decide the winner came late in the second for the Huskies, and although the 'Birds put everything on the line outshooting the Huskies 15-7 in the final frame, fate had other plans. 2-0 was the final score.
 
"We just need to be resilient and get refocused for tomorrow," said Thomas. "This will give us the fire and the drive for tomorrow. We just need to fight for each other, do it as a team with that hunger and desperation."
 
Danielle Dube suffered the loss in net for the T-Birds. She stopped 22 of 23 shots she faced on the night.
 
No team had success on the power play Friday evening; UBC went 0-for-4 and Saskatchewan went 0-for-3.
 
With the win Saskatchewan leads the best-of-three series 1-0, putting the 'Birds in a must-win situation for game 2 tomorrow.
 
In the other Canada West semi-final series, sixth-seed Regina upset first-seed Alberta 2-1 to clinch game 1.
 
The Thunderbirds will seek to avenge Saskatchewan tomorrow at 5:00 pm PST. The game can be watched live at canadawest.tv.