VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds will be playing for the Golden Path Trophy for the first time in program history.
 
In a wild, come-from behind 2-1 win in the 2016 CIS Women's Hockey Championship semifinal, the Thunderbirds outlasted the No.1-seeded Guelph Gryphons in an eight-round shootout, with the winning marker coming off the stick of Haneet Parhar (West Vancouver), as the fourth-year forward went forehand-backhand-shelf to beat Guelph netminder Valerie Lamenta.
 
Though apparently, it wasn't all her idea.
 
"To be honest, [head coach Graham Thomas] told me exactly what to do," said Parhar. "I didn't even look at the goalie, I just did the move that I've done thousands of times in practice."
 
Prior to the last second-heroics, the main storyline of this contest was a goaltending duel for the ages, as UBC's Danielle Dube (New Westminster) made 35 stops through 65 minutes and seven more in the shootout, while Lamenta, the 2016 CIS Player of the Year, made 32 stops during the run of play, and six during the shootout.
 
"I thought the girls were phenomenal, playing T-Birds hockey to a tee – that seems to be, when we're on the line, it seems to be when we play our best, and when we come together as a team," said Dube.
 
The 'Birds dominated the first period in terms of possession, controlling the pace of play for much of the 20 opening minutes. Awarded three powerplays in the period, the 'Birds hammered the Gryphons to the tune of 17 shots on goal, but not one found its way past Lamenta,.
 
Despite only managing five shots against Dube in the first frame, the Gryphons took a 1-0 lead midway through the period. On an abbreviated powerplay, left winger Kaitlin Lowy put a quick wrister through heavy traffic towards the Thunderbirds goal. The puck appeared to tick off UBC defender Kelly Murray (Medicine Hat, Alta.) as it found its way past Dube.
 
The 'Birds found their legs as the teams came out for the third period. Skating hard and playing physical, UBC earned another powerplay seven minutes into the stanza. On their sixth man advantage, the 'Birds finally took advantage, as a seeing-eye shot from Murray found the back of the cage past the glove of Lamenta, thanks in part to a phenomenal screen from centre Logan Boyd (Waterdown, Ont.)
 
A late 5-on-3 powerplay nearly turned disastrous for the 'Birds, as Kelly Gribbons jumped on a loose puck and raced down the ice on a breakaway, only to be denied by Dube.
 
With just 10 seconds remaining in regulation, and Guelph on another man advantage, Christine Grant had a chance to put the game to bed, but breaking in alone, the fourth-year forward was stopped by Dube.
 
With Kaylin Snodgrass (Lakeview, Alta.) in the box for UBC three minutes into the extra session, Kathleen Cahoon (Calgary) stole the puck at the UBC and skated the length of the ice, only to be stymied by Lamenta on the breakaway.
 
Cahoon looked to have won the game with just 1:16 left in overtime, as she roofed a loose puck from the slot, beating Lamenta clean. However, Boyd, with her skates in the Guelph crease, was called for goaltender interference, and the goal was called off.
 
The 'Birds not only continued after believing they had won the contest, but had to kill a 4-on-3 Gryphons powerplay for the rest of the overtime session.
 
 "I think that exemplified the leadership and character of our group," said Thomas. "For us to be able to rebound from something like that, and keep our composure and focus says something about these girls."
 
The T-Birds now await their championship game opponent, as the Montreal Carabins and SMU Huskies are currently facing off in the other semifinal. The gold medal match is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. (PT) tomorrow, March 20.