WINNIPEG – With a rollercoaster of a game and a third period photo finish, the No. 2 seeded Manitoba Bisons took game one of the best-of-three Canada West semifinal over the No. 3 seeded UBC Thunderbirds, 4-3 at Wayne Fleming Arena Friday night.
Manitoba had the last laugh in a wild third period that saw three goals, including one on an Alanna Sharman penalty shot. The Bisons got the game-winner off the stick of second-year Lauren Warkentin, who scored after a misplay from UBC goalie Tory Micklash with just 40 seconds left.
Also scoring for Manitoba were Lauryn Keen and Karissa Kirkup, while the Thunderbirds got goals from Mathea Fischer, Hannah Koroll, and Ireland Perrott.
Early on, the Thunderbirds took advantage of a power play halfway through the first. Fischer fired from the circle with just 18 seconds to go in the Bisons penalty kill, scoring her seventh point of the playoffs through just three games. Mikayla Ogrodniczuk and Koroll each picked up an assist.
The Bisons burst into the second period in style, scoring just 12 seconds in. Fifth-year forward Lauryn Keen slid the puck short side past Micklash. Fellow fifth-years Kirkup and Natasha Kostenko padded their stats with an apple a piece.
Just over five minutes later, second-year blueliner Brielle Dacquay-Neveux was shut down by Micklash, but Kirkup put away the rebound off the goalie's pads, putting the Bisons up 2-1.
With 5:25 remaining in the second, a flub in front of the Bisons net ended with the puck bouncing off Jenai Buchanan's skate and past Taraschuk. UBC's Koroll was credited with the goal, tying the score at two.
Early in the third period, a UBC player covered the puck in the crease, awarding the Bisons a penalty shot. Fifth-year forward Alanna Sharman faked right but went left, sliding a nice backhand shot past Micklash giving the Bisons a 3-2 lead.
It didn't last long. Just a few minutes later and with Manitoba in the box, UBC's Perrott found room in traffic to put one past Taraschuk. Perrott's goal was assisted by Logan Boyd and Koroll. The teams were back at par, 3-3.
It looked as though the Bisons were going to put away another goal as the puck floated behind Micklash shortly after, but the UBC goalie batted it out of midair before it crossed the goal line, leaving the Bisons frustrated.
Then with 40 seconds left on the clock and overtime looking necessary, Warkentin broke away from the pack, landing an unassisted goal to secure the win.
The battle will continue in game two of the series Saturday with UBC facing elimination. Puck drop at Wayne Fleming Arena is set for 5:00 p.m. PT. Game three, if necessary, will go Sunday at 4:00 p.m. PT.
