VANCOUVER – Kunlun Red Star scored twice in each period for a decisive 6-0 win over the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team Tuesday night at Father David Bauer Arena in Vancouver.
 
Facing the Canadian Women's Hockey League professional team was sure to be a tough pre-season test for the T-Birds and they had their hands full all night.
 
"We have to take some positives out of it," said UBC head coach Graham Thomas who's entering his sixth season behind the T-Birds' bench. "We were playing an older team with some great players on it who move the puck really well and those players played a lot. We need to do things quicker and do things better."
 


Red Star and the T-Birds had 19 shots each. If not for UBC goaltender Tory Micklash, the score could have been worse for UBC.
 
At the other end of the ice the 'Birds couldn't manage to get one past Noora Raty, one of the most elite female goaltenders in the world and a member of the Finnish national team that won bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
 
"There were moments in the game when we pushed back and had some control and had some good chances but Noora Raty was just a wall," added Thomas.
 
It took Kunlun just 4:12 to open scoring as Liu Zhixin scored the first of two goals on the night.
 
Red Star doubled their lead late in the first when Rachel Lianes got sprung on a late breakaway and roofed the puck just under the crossbar.
 
Kunlun scored twice within a two-and-a-half-minute span in the second period, including one of Red Star's two power play goals as the visitors from China were in firm control throughout the game.


 
It's a quick turnaround for the 'Birds who are right back in exhibition action Wednesday night as they host the Chinese women's national team for the second straight year.
 
"I expect to see a quick, fast paced game again and they're going to be prepared and competing hard," said Thomas.
 
"They're going to be better, they've recruited and planned more, it's going to be a different team than what we saw last year."
 
Puck drop against team China is set for 7 p.m. PT at Father Bauer Arena.

SCORING SUMMARY
Kunlun Red Star 6, UBC 0
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017 at Father Bauer Arena
 
SCORING
1. KRS Zhixin Liu (Stephanie Anderson), 4:12
1. KRS Rachel Lianes (Madison Woo), 17:38 (SH)
2. KRS Madison Woo (Taylor Marchin), 9:11 (PP)
2. KRS Zhixin Liu (Kelli Stack), 10:53
3. KRS Zoe Hickel (Shiann Darkangelo, Jessica Wong), 2:08
3. KRS Kelli Stack (Zoe Hickel, Melanie Jue), 3:48 (PP)
 
PENALTIES
1. KRS Jessica Wong, 10:58 – Bodychecking, 2 min (PP)
1. KRS Lu Wen, 14:49 – Bodychecking, 2 min (PP)
1. UBC Kathleen Cahoon, 15:06 – Tripping, 2 min (PP)
1. KRS Shiann Darkangelo, 16:41 – Tripping, 2 min (PP)
1. KRS Melanie Jue, 19:13 – Bodychecking, 2 min (PP)
2. KRS Rachel Lianes, 4:47 – Head contact, 2 min (PP)
2. KRS Jessica Wong, 6:13 – Bodychecking, 2 min (PP)
2. UBC Kathleen Cahoon, 7:27 – Hooking, 2 min (PP)
2. KRS Stephanie Anderson, 14:33 – Head contact, 4 min
2. KRS Zoe Hickel, 14:33 – Roughing, 2 min
2. UBC Kathleen Cahoon, 14:33 – Head contact, 4 min
2. UBC Logan Boyd, 14:33 – Roughing, 2 min
2. UBC Kirsten Toth, 14:33 – Misconduct, 10 min
2. KRS Rachel Lianes, 16:07 – Head contact, 2 min (PP)
3. KRS Stephanie Anderson, 1:40 – Cross checking, 2 min (PP)
3. UBC Emily Costales, 1:51 – Bodychecking, 2 min (PP)
3. UBC Emily Costales, 8:28 – Roughing, 2 min
3. KRS Madison Woo, 8:28 – Cross checking, 2 min
3. KRS Rui Zhu, 10:19 – Head contact, 2 min (PP)
3. KRS Madison Woo, 16:34 – Head contact, 4 min (PP)
 
SCORING BY PERIOD
KRS     2          2          2          6
UBC     0          0          0          0
 
SHOTS BY PERIOD
KRS     7          5          6          19
UBC     7          4          6          19
 
PENALTIES
KRS: 13 for 30 minutes
UBC: 7 for 24 minutes
 
POWER PLAY
KRS: 2 for 3
UBC: 0 for 10

ATTENDANCE: 283
START: 7 p.m.
END: 9:22 p.m.
LENGTH: 2:22