VANCOUVER – The Alberta Pandas women's hockey team shutout the visiting UBC Thunderbirds for the second consecutive game, earning the weekend sweep with a 2-0 victory Saturday afternoon at Clare Drake Arena in Edmonton. Saturday's result came on the heels of a 1-0 triumph by Alberta on Friday night.
 
Fourth-year forward Sasha Lutz and rookie Alex Poznikoff were the goal scorers for Alberta, while fourth-year goalie Lindsey Post stopped all 14 shots to earn her second straight shutout.

Fifth-year Thunderbird goalie Samantha Langford (Pense, Sask.) stopped 20 out of 22 shots she faced, standing on her head at times to keep the 'Birds in the game. The seasoned goaltender's most important stops came in the first when the score was still even, as she had back-to-back-to-back robberies during UBC's first penalty kill.

After a tough first period for the Thunderbirds, in which they were outshot 11-1, Alberta notched their first tally of the night off of a turnover behind UBC's net 8:49 into the second. Sasha Lutz corralled the free puck and backed into a wide-open slot, firing the puck past an unsuspecting Langford glove-side for her third goal of the year.

The Pandas would continue to pressure UBC, and would finally find the insurance marker on their second powerplay of the night. Hannah Olenyk's point shot was tipped in front by Poznikoff, to put Alberta up 2-0. The rookie continues to lead the Pandas in scoring with eight goals and ten points.

UBC didn't fire their first shot of the third period until the 10-minute mark, and were only able to muster five third period shots in total, all of which were easily handled by Post. The 'Birds would take two costly penalties in the latter half of the final period, all but cementing the win for Alberta.

With the win, Alberta (8-5-0-1) momentarily moves past UBC into top spot in the Canada West standings with 25 points. UBC, meanwhile, falls to 6-5-2-1 on the season, and into a tie for second place with Saskatchewan.

Only one point separates the Huskies and the 'Birds from the fourth-place Manitoba Bisons in the tight Canada West.
 
UBC will look to rebound from the sweep next weekend, as they head home for a weekend showdown with the Calgary Dinos at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

Alberta, meanwhile, will hit the road for their final series of 2015, as they visit the 5-6-2-1 University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.