VANCOUVER – Two goals against less than a minute apart in the third period proved to be the difference for the UBC Thunderbirds who fell 6-3 to Shenzhen in the rubber match of the three-game exhibition series at Father Bauer Arena Thursday night.

The 'Birds entered the final period down by a goal but things quickly unravelled with the visiting team of Chinese Olympic hopefuls scoring twice within a 38 second span to give themselves more than enough breathing room to win their second game of the series.

Tia Loy Chan made 28 saves picking up the win in net for Shenzhen while Danielle Wierenga stopped 29 shots for the 'Birds.



Things started well for the T-Birds with Shay-Lee McConnell opening scoring six minutes into the opening frame with her second goal in as many nights, slipping the puck past Chan.

Ireland Perrott looked to double the lead midway through the period with a patented hard slap shot but Chan got all of it and covered up for the whistle with McConnell waiting on the doorstep for a rebound that never appeared.

The 'Birds entered the first intermission with the 1-0 lead in what was a fairly non-eventful opening period with neither team securing a power play chance.

But just 21 seconds into the second frame, the T-Birds were off to their first man advantage of the game when Shenzhen's Emma Kee was called for a hold. The visitors were able to kill it off and just seconds after being released from the box, Kee put a perfectly placed wrister glove side past Wierenga to tie the game at one apiece.



Shenzhen took their first lead of the game just past the halfway point of the second when Anna Segedi slid the puck across the line from a crowd in front of the crease.

The 'Birds got another power play chance shortly after they fell behind when Mia Del Rosso took a holding minor. But just 12 seconds into the advantage, Segedi scored short handed to put the visitors up by a pair. UBC answered back almost immediately thanks to a mid-air deflection at the side of the net by Perrott, getting the home squad back within a goal.

UBC got into penalty trouble in the later stages of the second period, down 5-on-3 for over a minute, but the 'Birds managed to complete the kill, keeping the deficit to a single goal heading to the third.

Shenzhen restored their two-goal lead four minutes into the final frame with Kee's second of the game. Less than a minute later the visitors took their biggest lead of the game when Anna Fairman snapped the puck glove side past Wierenga.

The 'Birds got one back with 5:40 remaining in the period with yet another beautiful deflection, this one off the stick of McConnell for her second of the game from Ashley McFadden.



Just 11 seconds after the ensuing faceoff, the 'Birds found themselves back on the power play and a chance to pull back within one. UBC head coach Graham Thomas pulled Wierenga for the 6-on-4 advantage which quickly became a 6-on-3 when Jacquelin Tam was called for a head contact minor. Despite the lengthy opportunity, UBC couldn't capitalize and shortly after Shenzhen returned to full strength the visitors hit the empty net to seal the 6-3 victory.

The 'Birds finished the game 1-for-4 on the power play while Shenzhen went 0-for-3.

The game marked the final home preseason contest for the T-Birds who won't see game action again until they embark on a Minnesota road trip beginning September 22^nd against Minnesota State University.