EDMONTON – For the fourth straight post-season game, the UBC Thunderbirds headed to sudden death overtime but for the second straight game they failed to come out on the right side of a 1-0 decision. The Alberta Pandas scored 6:28 into the extra frame, advancing to the Canada West final while ending the T-Birds' playoff run.
On the heels of Friday's triple overtime 1-0 loss, the 'Birds once again struggled to find an offensive touch as Alberta goaltender Kirsten Chamberlin stopped all 22 shots sent her way for her second straight shutout at Edmonton's Clare Drake Arena.
Tory Micklash was nearly equally as brilliant making 20 saves, finishing the weekend with just two goals against on a combined 69 Alberta shots.
Autumn MacDougall broke the goose egg in game two with her first of the playoffs coming at the biggest moment of the Panda's season.
With the win, Alberta advances to the conference final where they'll face the winner of the other semifinal between the Calgary Dinos and Mount Royal Cougars. The series win over UBC also clinches a berth for Alberta at the U SPORTS national championship.
The game was evenly matched throughout, but it was the Pandas who once again got the upper hand over a competitive UBC team. With the officials letting the players play and calling only a single penalty, a roughing call on T-Birds defenceman Rylind Mackinnon, both teams were going to have to find a way score five-on-five.
MacDougall's effort would be the series deciding tally as her sharp angle shot beat Micklash over the shoulder.
The series loss ends an entertaining and hard fought playoff run for the T-Birds who saw overtime action in all four of their post-season contests.
