VANCOUVER – On the heels of a game that got away the night before, the UBC Thunderbirds (1-2-0-1) were the dominant team from start to finish Saturday, scoring twice in the second period en route to a 3-0 win over the visiting Calgary Dinos (2-1-1-0) at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, ending the weekend series with four out of a possible six points.
Tiffany Chiu and Mikayla Ogrodniczuk each scored their first goals of the season while Tory Micklash earned the 22 save shutout as the T-Birds secured their first win of the year while handing the Dinos their first loss.
After outshooting Calgary by a 10-4 margin in the opening period, the 'Birds entered the second with a bang as Chiu took advantage of a Dinos turnover and wristed a long-range shot past Kelsey Roberts. Kennesha Miswaggon earned her first Canada West point with the assist.
The Dinos looked to get on even terms when they were awarded their second power play of the game with seven minutes remaining in the frame. But the T-Birds' penalty kill, which went a perfect 3-for-3 Saturday, kept the home side ahead. Just as Ogrodniczuk exited the box having served her minor penalty, she received a perfect feed from Ashley McFadden to break into the Dinos' zone all alone. The veteran defenceman then scored her first of the season, bar-down, to double UBC's lead heading into the final period.
Still looking for their first goal of the game, the Dinos earned another power play chance with little over six minutes remaining in the third, but UBC's penalty kill once again stymied the visitors.
Hannah Koroll put the game on ice with 83 seconds left on the clock when she found the empty net for her second of the season.
The 'Birds outshot the Dinos 28-22. Calgary's penalty kill was solid once again, preventing the 'Birds from capitalizing on five chances.
UBC is back on the road next weekend to visit the Regina Cougars while the Dinos return home to host the Manitoba Bisons Friday and Saturday at Father David Bauer Arena.
