LANGLEY, B.C. – Mackenzie Kordic scored twice, including the eventual game winner, as the UBC Thunderbirds toppled the host Trinity Western Spartans 4-1 Friday night at the Langley Events Centre.
Rookie Spartans goaltender Kate Fawcett kept the Spartans (2-17-0) within reach of the Thunderbirds (12-5-0) making 40 saves, but the visitors could not be held back in their twelfth victory of the 2021-22 season.
UBC goaltender Elise Hugens stopped 14 shots for her league leading tenth win of the season as the T-Birds moved into a tie with Manitoba and Saskatchewan for second place in the conference, but with two games in hand on both the Bisons and Huskies.
A large portion of the first period saw the Spartans fall back into their zone at Fawcett stood tall, stopping 15 of 16 shots in the period.
Kordic was the first to draw blood, beating Fawcett halfway through the first 20 minutes of play to give the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.
With TWU on their heels after the first period, one of four UBC penalties on the night gave the home team's power play an opportunity to get going. Olivia Leier made no mistake, receiving the puck from Brooklyn Anderson on the right-wing, then putting it home for TWU's only goal of the night.
Leier's goal was the only motivation the Thunderbirds needed as the visitors scored three unanswered goals to finish the second period.
Kordic's second of the night and seventh of the season eight minutes into the frame stood up as the game winner.
Grace Elliot scored just 20 seconds later while captain Kenzie Robinson added her fifth of the season on the power play with five and a half remaining in the period for some added insurance.
The T-Birds finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play while the Spartans went 1-for-3.
Saturday night UBC can complete their season series sweep over TWU while also continuing their bid to lock down a home playoff berth in what will be their final road game of the regular season.
Puck drop at the Langley Events Centre is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.
