VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds spread the offence around as four different goal scorers stepped up for the blue and gold on Saturday afternoon en route to defeating the visiting University Alberta Pandas 4-0 at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre while completing the weekend sweep.
Unlike last night, the opening goal came from UBC, as rookie forward
Karine Sandilands scored a highlight reel marker starting from her own zone. After a big faceoff win, Sandilands broke down the left wing, bested two Pandas in front of the Alberta net and sniped the puck home for her first Canada West goal, one to remember for sure.
Following UBC's opening goal, Alberta had a 5-on-3 power play, but the 'Birds made some brave blocks to keep it 1-0. Shortly after that massive penalty kill,
Joelle Fiala scored her second of the season on a crisp cross ice pass from
Ireland Perrott, doubling the T-Birds lead with roughly eight minutes to go in the opening frame.
Then, with seven seconds to go in the first period, a
Rylind MacKinnon point shot found twine, giving the Thunderbirds a momentous three goal first period lead against one of Canada West's top teams.
"As a coach it's a lot more comforting when your team has a start like that," sadi UBC head coach
Graham Thomas. "We have done that a few times this year, we are learning to get in front of teams and It emphasizes how important that first goal can be, and what a first goal it was for Karine."
Alberta responded well for a portion of the second period, generating a couple quality offensive looks. The home size extended their lead to 4-0 through captain
Kenzie Robinson as she deflected a point shot for her third of the season with just over five minutes to go in the middle frame. The Pandas earned a power play late in the period but were not able to garner any solid chances as UBC held firm in their penalty kill structure.
The Pandas had three power plays in that third period, however they were not unable to get back in the game and it finished 4-0 for the home team Thunderbirds. Rookie goaltender
Elise Hugens secured her third shutout of the season in the win.
"The one thing we left the team with at the end of our meeting was that this was a great win against a great program," added Thomas. "However, we need to stay focused for the next two weekends before the Christmas break."
With the victory, UBC improves to 6-2-0-0 on the season, while the Pandas drop to 1-3-3-1. The 'Birds are on the road next week to Saskatchewan to face the Huskies, while the Pandas are once again on the road visiting Manitoba.
