WINNIPEG – The UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team closed strong on Friday night, as three straight goals in the third period proved the difference in a 4-2 road win over the Manitoba Bisons.
 
Third-year winger Kathleen Cahoon (Calgary) was the unquestioned star of the show in the win, as she bagged a hat-trick, including the game-winner. She added an assist on the team's final tally to cap off a four-point night. Fourth-year defender Kelly Murray (Medicine Hat, Alta.) notched a couple of assists, while senior goalie Danielle Dube (New Westminster, B.C.) made 21 saves on 23 shots.
 
The 'Birds move to 13-8-3-3 on the year, and retain the spot atop the Canada West standings. Meanwhile, the Bisons fall to 12-13-0-2, meaning that while they've already locked up a playoff spot, Manitoba will not be able to finish high enough in the standing to guarantee home ice in the post-season.
 
The Thunderbirds struck first, at the 17:34 mark of the opening frame. Defender Murray drove the net hard, while Cahoon was waiting at the back door, and able to tuck the puck home.
 
Neither team was able to generate a lot of offense aside from their power plays, with lots of miscued passes and odd-man rushes in either direction. UBC had the lead in shots on goal and on the scoreboard heading into the first intermission.
 
In the second period, both teams traded power plays in the early going but were again, unable to capitalize. Dube made some key stops in the second frame, stymieing Bisons forward Erica Rieder on two occasions. Her best save of the period perhaps came when Alana Serhan was alone in the slot on a 2-on-1 and Dube was there to flash the leather to keep it 1-0 for the 'Birds.
 
Bisons goalie Rachel Dyck was not about to be outdone, however, as she made a couple big saves of her own, including a marvelous kick save on UBC forward Katie Zinn (Coquitlam, B.C.) in the slot.
 
All in all, the spectacular goaltending from both sides meant the 'Birds took that one-goal lead into the third.
 
It took the Bisons just 38 seconds to draw level in the final period, as Rieder finally managed to get on the score sheet after going top shelf on a shorthanded breakaway. UBC came right back, forcing Dyck to kick her leg out to make a fantastic pad save to keep the scores level.
 
Manitoba took their first lead of the game on the powerplay, 4:34 into the frame. After Alanna Sharman fed Venla Hovi a pass in the slot, the Finnish international managed to shoot across her body and finish blocker side on Dube.
 
The lead would not last long for the Bisons, as Cahoon scored her second goal of the night less than a minute later, after a scramble in Manitoba's crease to make the score 2-2.
 
The Thunderbirds would regain the lead three-and-a-half minutes later, when Cahoon completed her hat trick at the midway mark of the third. On a 5-on-3 power play, the 6-foot-1 winger walked out from the half boards to fire a low, hard shot past Dyck. With the hat trick, Cahoon now leads the 'Birds with 14 goals.
 
UBC would double their lead a few minutes later when on the power play, Kirsten Toth (Langley, B.C.) had a point shot go off the post and into the back of the net.
 
Manitoba pushed hard for an equalizer in the dying minutes but were unable to come up with the two goals to tie the game.