VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (4-9-1) mounted a brief charge late in the third period Saturday but fell 5-3 to the visiting Mt. Royal Cougars (9-5-0) at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, suffering a fourth straight loss.
 
Down by a pair of goals in the third, the T-Birds pulled goaltender Matt Hewitt for the extra attacker but Zack Henry hit the empty net for his second of the season at the 18:47 mark. But just 33 seconds later, Adam Rossignol fired home a shot from the slot after Chase Clayton won an offensive face-off, giving UBC a faint glimpse of hope with 40 seconds left.
 
The 'Birds once again iced an extra attacker but the Cougars held on for a second straight win as the Thunderbirds suffer back-to-back home ice losses for the first time all season.
 
"If we don't scratch and claw for every inch we're not going to win," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon. "Until we're ready to work hard for a full 60 minutes, it's going to be tough."
 


The Cougars took their first lead of the game just 16 seconds into the second period when after a defensive zone faceoff win, Jamal Watson streaked up the right-wing side eventually earning a late breakaway where he outwaited Hewitt and slid in his team-leading eighth of the season.
 
The T-Birds finally earned their first power play of the game two minutes later and converted for the first time in six games. Anthony Bardaro made a beautiful feed down low to Luke Lockhart who one-timed the puck for his fourth goal of the season tying the game at 2-2 with Manraj Hayer picking up the second assist.
 
But four minutes later the Cougars took the lead back for good as Matt Bellerive slid home a loose puck at the side of the crease for his third of the season and second of the weekend.
 
The Cougars then added to their lead with a power play goal of their own 9:12 into the third as Devin Gannon converted with his fourth of the season.
 
UBC finished 1-for-2 on the power play while killing off three of four Mount Royal chances. The Cougars outshot the T-Birds 30-20. Hewitt made 26 saves and was especially strong in the third period giving the 'Birds a chance.
 
"It was good to see him have a strong game," said Butenschon. "He had that look in his eyes before the game and knew he was going to be strong and he was, it was good for him."
 
As was the case Friday night, the Thunderbirds opened scoring, this time it was Riley Guenther with his second of the season, a blast from high in the slot that found its way through traffic 8:01 into the first. Buonassisi and Joe Antilla picked up the helpers.
 
But that early lead lasted all of 34 seconds before Cam Maclise made the T-Birds pay for not clearing the puck in front of the net.
 
Buonassisi finished with a goal and an assist and earned the game's third star.
 
The T-Birds close out the 2016 portion of their schedule with a pair of home games next Friday and Saturday against the Calgary Dinos.
 
"We need an incredibly resilient group," said Butenschon. "If we work harder than (the Dinos) then we can look ourselves in the mirror and say we did everything we could and give ourselves an opportunity."
 
Both games will be played at Father David Bauer Arena with puck drop Friday at 7 p.m. PT. MRU will host the Manitoba Bisons next weekend in Calgary, with Friday's contest beginning at 7 p.m. MT.