LANGLEY, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds head into their bye week with a nine-game win streak following a 4-1 victory over the host Trinity Western Spartans Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre.
Makenzie McCallum scored twice, including the game winner, while
Reese Hiddleston made 27 saves to ensure the T-Birds (20-1-3) will remain atop the Canada West heading into their next weekend series in the beginning of February.
"It wasn't our best effort," said UBC Thunderbirds head coach
Graham Thomas despite earning the win. "I'm disappointed with our preparation and mindset tonight. We need to be better."
UBC captain
Rylind MacKinnon opened scoring with her eighth of the season just 4:01 into the first. McCallum doubled the T-Birds' lead to head into the break with her eighth with just 25 seconds on the clock.
After failing to take advantage of their two first period power plays, the T-Birds capitalized on their third to give themselves a 3-0 lead five minutes into the second.
Grace Elliott completed a tic-tac-toe play with a quick, low shot from the slot for her 10
th.
The Spartans (6-15-1) finally solved Hiddleston 2:53 into the third when Kara Yackel scored her fifth of the season on the power play.
TWU continued to press and had a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage midway through the period, but Hiddleston was solid in goal setting a career high in saves along the way.
"Reese kept us in the game," added Thomas. "On a positive note, we found a way to get the win against a hungry, very well disciplined team."
With Spartans netminder Kate Fawcett on the bench for the extra attacker, McCallum secured her second multi-goal game of the season by hitting the empty net with just a second remaining as the 'Birds completed the season series sweep.
The 'Birds aren't back in Canada West action until February 2 when they host the Alberta Pandas for the first of two weekend matchups that could go a long way to determining playoff positioning for both.
