Hannah Koroll was the OT hero as the UBC Thunderbirds needed extra time to edge the visiting Trinity Western Spartans 4-3. The win had a measure of revenge as the T-Birds lost in overtime at their cross-town rival Spartans' home-rink earlier in the week. With the win the T-Birds now have 20 points, and sit just one point behind the Mount Royal Cougars in the battle for first place.

"It's a sign of a great team, when you can find a way to pull through, and be resilient, when some doubt seeps in or a team's pushing back or some bounces don't go your way." Said T-Birds Head Coach Graham Thomas on his team's performance.



UBC came out firing at the Doug on Saturday afternoon as Sophia Gaskell ripped a slapshot just 1:24 into the game to give the T-Birds the early lead. Spartans penalty trouble gave UBC's powerplay a chance to extend their lead; Chanreet Bassi stepped off the wing and popped Spartans goalie Mabel Maltais' water bottle with a top-shelf snipe. Special teams were a big factor in the game as the Thunderbirds went 2/9, and Trinity Western finished 2/3 on the powerplay.

The Spartans may have been down 2-0 after the first period, but they were far from out of the game. An inspired effort in the second period saw the Spartans strike twice on the powerplay with goals from Kate Klassen, and Neisha Germann. However, the goal of the period belonged to UBC's Mia Bierd. Sophia Gaskell pushed the puck up to Bierd who had a clear-cut breakaway and made no mistake sneaking a cheeky 5-hole goal past Maltais. Bierd assisted on Bassi's powerplay goal as well, giving her a multi-point night, and 6 points so far this season.



The teams entered the period with a big disparity in shots, UBC lead the shot count 23-5, but the Spartans remained within a goal. Both teams picked up the intensity in the third period, each garnering 7 shots on net. As the Spartans and T-Birds battled it out, open-space was taken away and it looked like there might not be a goal in the period. However, with under 5 minutes remaining, Spartans defender McKenzie Mayo took a pass from Chloe Reid at the top of the circle, and her shot found a way past UBC goalie Kate Stuart.

Fans were treated to 4-on-4 overtime, and the physicality continued. T-Birds players seemed to have a special focus on Spartans leading scorer Amy Potomak, as the NCAA transfer was given minimal room to create offence. Potomak and UBC captain Rylind MacKinnon had been battling all night, but it was a Potomak cross-check in the third period that proved pivotal. UBC's powerplay went to work in overtime, defender Hannah Koroll picked the puck out of a scrum on the boards, and found herself one-on-one with the goalie, she made a move to her backhand slid the game winner past an outstretched Maltais.



"Just knowing Hannah and the way she is, as soon as she stole that puck, I was like 'Yup, that's going in.' She's a smart hockey player and read that situation well, and just the composure with the puck to walk around, it was a beautiful goal." Coach Thomas recounted watching Koroll's OT winner.

The battle atop the Canada West standings doesn't get any easier for the UBC Thunderbirds (9-1-2), as they welcome the Alberta Pandas (9-3-0) to Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Alberta trails UBC by two points in the standings, and will be coming off of their BYE week. Meanwhile the fifth place Trinity Western Spartans (6-5-1) head to Calgary for a weekend series against the U Of C Dinos (4-6-2).  



"Next couple weekends in a row we got some huge matchups, I think for our group we're excited about it, we're really fired up for the challenge, always have great games against Alberta, and we're excited." Coach Thomas added of the opportunity ahead for the T-Birds.