CALGARY – It wasn't the end to the regular season the UBC Thunderbirds had in mind, suffering a 2-0 loss to the Mount Royal Cougars Saturday afternoon at Flames Community Arenas.

The Cougars scored once in each of the final two periods while Kaitlyn Ross made 14 saves as MRU clinched the final Canada West home playoff berth.

The loss drops the T-Birds to the sixth and final playoff spot as UBC will head to Saskatoon next weekend to face the Saskatchewan Huskies in a best-of-three quarter-final series.

The first period Saturday ended scoreless with each team failing to execute on a power play opportunity while both Ross and UBC's Tory Micklash turned aside five shots.



Tensions ran higher in the second as both teams pushed for an advantage. Finding an opportunity on one of their five power plays, Cougars assistant captain Daria O'Neill pushed through the Thunderbirds zone to sink the puck past Micklash, earning her second goal of the season. UBC regrouped and managed several chances on the Cougars net, but were unable to land a goal by the buzzer.

Up by a goal, the Cougars continued to apply pressure in the T-Birds' zone and were rewarded when Anna Purschke doubled the MRU lead with just over six minutes remaining in the third. The Thunderbirds made a final push in an attempt to cut into the deficit but were thwarted by Ross.

The 'Birds will return home to regroup before heading back on the road to begin their quarter-final series against the Huskies on Friday, February 14^th.