VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team lost a double overtime heartbreaker to the Regina Cougars in Saskatchewan Friday evening. The 3-2 loss drops the Thunderbirds' league record to 5-3-1.
 
UBC went 0-for-6 on the power play, chasing missed opportunities into double OT.
 
Two goals from Kylie Gavelin assured the victory for Regina and earned her the first star of the game. Her first tally was the Cougars' first of the night, a shorthanded goal in the second, and her final was the game winner in the second overtime.
 
The 'Birds struck first in the opening frame, as fifth-year forward Rebecca Unrau (Humboldt, Sask.) notched her seventh goal of the season. Unrau now has 10 points in nine CIS games, and is one goal behind the Cougars' Emma Waldenberger for the Canada West's top scorer distinction. Her weekend rival currently has eight goals and 11 points, while Unrau has seven goals and 10 points. Fourth-year Haneet Parhar (West Vancouver) and second-year Logan Boyd (Waterdown, Ont.) chipped in on the goal. 
 
Special teams play failed UBC in the second. At 0:17, Gavelin notched her short-handed goal to tie the game 1-1. The tally would be the first of her three points in the game.
 
Less than five minutes later, UBC was disadvantaged as Cailey Hay served a hit to the head penalty. The Cougars struck again, taking the lead 2-1. Gavelin and Bailey Braden found Brooklyn Moskowy for her second goal of the season.
 
The Thunderbirds did not give up, however, rallying to tie the game in the final period. Seven minutes in Boyd, took matters into her own hands, scoring unassisted for her first goal of the season and leveling the score at 2-2.
 
After making 27 saves in regulation play, UBC goaltender Samantha Langford (Pense, Sask.) shut out the Cougars in the third giving the 'Birds the opportunity to bounce back.
 
In the second sudden-death overtime, Gavelin was gifted a turnover right in front of the UBC. She converted the scoring chance for an unassisted goal. It was her second marker of the night.
 
A rematch between the Thunderbirds and the Cougars is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. (PT).