CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – The Thunderbirds did everything but score as they dominated puck possession and chances, but in the end, it came down to one shot in overtime, as UBC fell 1-0 to the Nipissing University Lakers in quarter-final action at the U SPORTS National Championship Thursday evening.
Despite outshooting the OUA runners-up by a 41-26 margin, and amassing nine power play opportunities, the T-Birds just couldn't find the back of the net while Madison Solie scored with just under three minutes remaining in the ten minute four-on-four overtime period.
"It's a heartbreaker, our group deserved a better outcome in the game but that's just how hockey goes sometimes," said UBC Head Coach
Graham Thomas. "Give credit to their goalie and their penalty kill, they took away a lot of opportunities and chances we had out front. But it's a tough one, just in shock right now for sure."
The Lakers started the game with jump, owning a decided edge in play in the opening ten minutes. But after UBC earned their first power play of the game midway through the opening period, the T-Birds settled down and took over in all respects for the remainder of regulation.
Perhaps the 'Birds' best chance came late in the third period when Lakers goaltender Chloe Marshall made a pair of game saving stops, first denying
Sophia Gaskell from the point, then
Mackenzie Kordic who pounced on the rebound in the low slot.
In the end, the only puck to cross the line through nearly 70 minutes was courtesy of Solie. An intended feed out into the slot ended up missing the mark, sliding all the way back to the point where Solie let a one-timer rip through traffic and past a screened
Elise Hugens.
Both goaltenders were tremendous on the evening with Hugens making 25 saves in her first start on the national stage as a rookie netminder.
"I never felt, except for the first eight or ten minutes, I never felt nervous or worried," added Thomas of his team's composure throughout the game. "I felt confident we were going to get it done like we have all playoffs long so I think that's what makes it even harder. Not like we were playing back on our heels, we were playing our game."
The loss stings like no other this team has experienced. While the T-Birds are now no longer able to chase the National Championship banner, their tournament is not over as they'll face McGill in a consolation semifinal Saturday morning at the Bell Aliant Centre.
"As a staff we're really proud of the group and what we've done and what we've accomplished this season. This doesn't take away from anything, we're really proud of our leaders. Elise played a fantastic game too and our seniors played their hearts out and that's how it can kind of go in short term competition sometimes. It's tough."
Puck drop against the Martlets, who lost their own heartbreaker, 5-4 in a shootout against the University of New Brunswick, is set for 10:00 a.m. AT/6:00 a.m. PT Saturday. The game will be streamed live at
USPORTS.ca.
