CALGARY – Fending off Calgary comebacks on two occasions, Hannah Koroll scored the game winner in the third period as the UBC Thunderbirds earned a 3-2 win over the host Dinos in their first Canada West action in eight weeks.

"We just found a way to pull through that one and score big goals when we needed to," said UBC Head Coach Graham Thomas. "Give them credit, they came out so hard, it was back and forth, pretty even and we found a way to pull it out in the end with some good penalty killing."

Rylind MacKinnon picked up right where she left off following a terrific first half of the season for the T-Birds defenceman, opening scoring Friday just 6:13 into the first period with her eighth of the season.



But the host Dinos (6-9) answered back six minutes later on Holly Reuther's eighth as the two Canada West rivals headed into the break tied with one goal apiece.

Chanreet Bassi gave the 'Birds (10-3) their lead back late in the second period. Mackenzie Kordic took the puck out from the corner and passed it to Bassi who buried top shelf behind Gabriella Durante.

But UBC's lead lasted all of 28 seconds before Rachel Paul drew the Dinos even once again, potting home a rebound past T-Birds goaltender Elise Hugens.

Their lead was short lived though, as Paul drew the Dinos even just 28 seconds later on a big rebound in front of Elise Hugens.



Koroll broke the tie with a power play goal for the Thunderbirds just 4:54 into the final period, giving UBC a 3-2 lead with the eventual game winner. 

Durante made 18 saves in net, while Hugens made 21 saves for her eighth win of the season.

"Elise played great," added Thomas. "MacKinnon, Koroll, (Kenzie) Robinson, (Shay-Lee McConnell) in her first game back, it was just good to get back out and compete again. There was some good and some things we have to work on, some moments of lapse where we have to get sharp and some awareness again, but all in all we played well enough to pull it out."

Birds take the first one of the weekend in a back and forth battle ????

?? Rylind MacKinnon
?? Chanreet Bassi
?? Hannah Koroll
?? Fiala, Kordic, Perrott, Elliot, Bassi

See you tomorrow for more action #gobirdsgo pic.twitter.com/zqWpRUwCdU

— UBC Women's Hockey (@UBCWHKY) January 29, 2022

The win pulled the T-Birds back into a tie for second in the Canada West along with Manitoba, four points back of Mount Royal with a game in hand on the Cougars.

UBC will look to extend their win streak to five games Saturday afternoon as they take on the Dinos again for the final time this regular season.

Puck Drop at Father David Bauer Arena is set for 2:00 p.m. PT.