SASKATOON – Hannah Clayton-Carrol's tally 23 seconds into overtime helped the UBC Thunderbirds take down the Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 3-2 Friday night at Merlis Belsher Place.
After each of the team's matchups last season in Saskatoon required overtime to determine a victor, tonight's contest was no different.
Bailee Bourassa's blast on the power play at the 18:48 mark of the third period tied the game at two goals apiece, but the Huskies weren't able to capitalize on their momentum and fell short in the first overtime frame.
Emma Hall and
Kennesha Miswaggon each recorded their first goals of the season in the win for the Thunderbirds, while Clayton-Carrol,
Sydney Neustaeter,
Shay-Lee McConnell,
Chanreet Bassi and
Mathea Fischer all tacked a helper apiece on the night.
Tory Micklash picked up the win for the Thunderbirds with a 22-save performance, while Jessica Vance turned aside 14 shots in between the pipes for the Huskies.
The Thunderbirds opened scoring just under five minutes remaining in the first period. A beautiful breakout play from within the visitor's zone led to a Clayton-Carroll breakaway, but after she hit the post, Hall was there to clean up the garbage, chipping the puck into the open net to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.
The Huskies responded with a second remaining in the first period after Bourassa's shot was re-deflected by Elias, who picked up her fourth goal of the season, setting a new best for the fifth-year forward.
Following a quiet second period which saw Saskatchewan outshoot UBC 10-4, the two clubs exchanged high-quality chances throughout the final frame, until the visitors took the lead with six minutes remaining in regulation.
The Thunderbirds power play went to work, and after the puck worked its way back to the blue line, McConnell fed Miswaggon, whose slap shot picked the corner and gave the Thunderbirds the 2-1 advantage.
However, after a UBC penalty, Saskatchewan responded with a snipe of their own. Bourassa's rocket from the half-wall was destined to find twine from the moment it left the Swift Current native's stick, tying the game at two goals apiece with just 1:12 remaining in the third period.
Clayton-Carroll responded with some magic of her own. After Fischer set the fifth-year forward up in the slot, she found the back of the net with the overtime winner to give the Thunderbirds their third-consecutive win.
Saskatchewan and UBC will do battle once again tomorrow evening at Merlis Belsher Place. Puck drop is set for 5:00 p.m. PT.
