VANCOUVER — The UBC Thunderbirds suffered their first shutout loss and first weekend sweep since the season-opening series with a 1-0 decision to the Mount Royal Cougars Saturday afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

The loss also snaps the 'Birds' 11-game point streak.

As was the case the previous evening, UBC (7-3-1-3) came out aggressively and forechecked hard, generating numerous scoring opportunities in the early going.

Mount Royal (7-6-1-0) was awarded a power play just before the midway mark of the opening period, and they were able to cash in for what stood up as the eventual game winner. Nicolette Seper got the puck from the corner and brought it out front, letting a shot go from just inside the faceoff circle, getting it past Thunderbirds netminder Tory Micklash up high. It was Seper's second goal of the weekend, after scoring the OT winner Friday night.



The Cougars had a golden chance to double their lead to open up the second period as Jayden Thorpe stole the puck off a Thunderbirds player at the UBC blue line and went in on a breakaway, but was denied by Micklash with a nice glove save.

Rookie Chanreet Bassi made a nice play as the 'Birds were trying to get back in the game. She circled behind the net and found Rylind MacKinnon out front who let a nice shot go, but Cassie Shokar was once again equal to the task as she made a nice glove save, one of her 28 stops on the night as she secured her second shutout of the season.



A flurry of late opportunities for the home team were covered well by a stingy Mount Royal defence.

"Credit to Mount Royal, we knew we were going to get full 60 minute performances both games from them, that is a great road win for them," said UBC assistant coach Mike Sommer. "For us, we look to stick to our structure, game to game and use our speed and forecheck. It was something we sustained early on tonight but we need to have it for the whole game."

The T-Birds will look to put a disappointing weekend behind them as they remain at home for the final series of 2019, hosting the Alberta Pandas next Friday and Saturday at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

Mount Royal is back on the road again next weekend when they visit the Saskatchewan Huskies.