REGINA, Sask. – The UBC Thunderbirds – the second-ranked women's hockey team in Canada – fell 1-0 to the host Regina Cougars Saturday night at The Co-operators Centre, leaving the squads with a win apiece from the weekend series. UBC won 4-3 Friday night.
Tamara McVannel was the goal scorer for Regina, and Jane Kish made 13 saves for her first shutout of the season as the Cougars improve to 4-2-0-0.
Amelia Boughn was excellent in net for the T-Birds (4-2-0-0), turning aside 22 of the 23 shots she faced.
After a scoreless first period the Cougars found themselves on the penalty kill to start the second. Regina killed off the first penalty but Shaelyn Vallotton took a hooking penalty to prevent a breakaway shortly after. The Cougars once again stood up to a potent UBC power play and were able to break the tie with an even strength goal from McVannel. Jaycee Magwood fed a pass back to the point and McVannel teed it up, beating a screened Boughn with a rocket to the blocker side.
The Cougars found the net again a few minutes later but the goal was waved off by the referees as it was ruled that Emma Coulter interfered with Boughn.
Regina had a number of opportunities to add an insurance marker after a UBC hooking penalty midway through the third, but Boughn made a couple of impressive saves on rebound efforts from Jordan Kulbida and Merissa Zerr.
Magwood had a breakaway chance with less than five minutes to play in the third, but a combination of a strong back check and a steady blocker from Boughn kept the Cougar lead at one. Lilla Carpenter-Boesch nearly put the game away in style with just over a minute left, stealing the puck from a UBC player and toe dragging around another defender before ringing a shot off the crossbar.
Regina will hit the road next weekend for a two-game set against the first-place Alberta Pandas (4-1-0-1).
UBC will return home to face the Lethbridge Pronghorns in Vancouver. Friday's game will begin at 7 p.m., while puck drop Saturday is at 2 p.m.
