VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds utilized a three goal third period to defeat the visiting Trinity Western University Spartans 5-2 Saturday afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. It was the 'Birds' third consecutive victory as they close out the 2021 portion of their schedule full of confidence.
After trailing early, the T-Birds (9-3) scored five of the game's remaining six goals to hand the Spartans (2-10) their fourth straight loss.
Coming off a multi-goal loss last night, the Spartans came out a motivated group. Despite facing an early UBC offensive foray, they took the lead a minute and half into the game. An odd numbered rush for TWU allowed defender Lainie Nichols to fire a quick shot from the left side that took a deflection in front, beating UBC netminder Reece Hiddleston.
Following three huge UBC penalty kills, the home team was rewarded late in the opening frame. Fifth year forward and captain Kenzie Robinson received a great pass from Chanreet Bassi and deked past two Spartans players, seamlessly snapping a shot past Trinity goaltender Jadeyn Kastning to even the game with 56 seconds to go in the first.
Another early period goal was scored in the middle frame, this time in the T-Birds' favour, courtesy of some nice stick handling in tight by Bassi. Robinson found
Shay-Lee McConnell inside the Spartans zone who played it in behind a Trinity Western defender right to Bassi who made a couple quick moves in front of the Spartans net to give UBC the lead.
The visitors would not go away though, as a phenomenal save by Hiddleston off Spartans rookie Reilley Kellner kept it 2-1 for the home team with a few minutes remaining in the second.
Following a lengthy delay due to an injured Spartan, the Thunderbirds came out firing, acquiring a quick goal from Mackenzie Kordic off a nice passing play in the Spartans zone to make it 3-1 UBC.
TWU responded 1:23 later as a nice counter attacking move found defender Chelsea Debusschere in front who tapped in her first Canada West goal. However, like the start to the third, UBC took over with a pair of goals 59 seconds apart from Ireland Perrott and McConnell, securing the 5-2 win.
"It's a good sign of a great team, staying focused during a time where it is easy to get distracted like bad bounces and injuries," commented UBC Head Coach Graham Thomas when asked how his team kept their mindset on the game during the delay. "I thought we did a great job of blocking things out and sticking to the process and our game plan when there was a lot of things going on in that game."
UBC enters the five-week long winter break in second place in the Canada West, just two points back of the leading Mount Royal Cougars.
The T-Birds open up 2022 at home to those very Cougars January 14th and 15th while the Spartans also start the New Year on home ice, hosting the Calgary Dinos.
