VANCOUVER – This T-Birds team, and
Nicole Saxvik, were made for big moments.
After scoring the eventual game-winner in last Saturday's 4-3 win over the Manitoba Bisons, the senior winger got her second straight winner in much more dramatic fashion on Friday night, scoring 1:48 into double overtime to lift her No. 1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team to a 2-1 over the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon's Rutherford Rink.
"Really good overall effort from the girls tonight," said UBC head coach
Graham Thomas. "These kind of games are always exciting, and there was a great crowd tonight, so it was a fun atmosphere. We keep finding ways to win, and that's something we need to keep doing moving forward."
It was a brilliant piece of work from Saxvik and sophomore forward Matthea Fischer that earned the 'Birds the win. On a two-on-one, the Norwegian import hit Saxvik in full flight, and the winger's one-timer gave Saskatchewan goaltender Cassidy Hendricks no chance to react.
With the victory, UBC improves to 18-3-0 on the season. Saskatchewan drops to 11-7-3. In the Canada West scoring race, Saxvik now moves into a tie for third overall, as her 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) has her behind only teammate
Cassandra Vilgrain and Regina's Jaycee Magwood, both with 21.
Sophomore Elizabeth Salyn opened the scoring at 7:19 in the first period on a quick rush into the UBC zone. Fourth-year forward Kaitlin Willoughby made the pass through traffic to Salyn at the side of the net beating netminder
Amelia Boughn stick side.
UBC tied the game with under five minutes left in the second period on the power play. Following some slick puck movement from
Kelly Murray and
Katie Zinn, Fischer's blast from the slot found the back of the net, blowing past Hendricks' outstretched glove at the 16:40 mark.
Boughn finished the night making 27 saves for the Thunderbirds, while Hendricks stopped 23 at the other end of the ice for Saskatchewan.
The two teams will battle again Saturday night at Rutherford Rink. Puck drop is at 5 p.m (PT).
