VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds have extended their winning-streak to six games after earning consecutive victories over the visiting MacEwan Griffins this weekend, completing the series sweep with a decisive 6-1 win Saturday afternoon at Father Bauer Arena.
The T-Birds (8-2) offence was on full-display with six different T-Birds recording multi-point performances. UBC outscored the Griffins (1-6-1) 12-3 on the weekend, their highest scoring series this season.
"It feels much better today. I think yesterday, yeah, we (scored) six, but it didn't feel like a 6-2 game," said UBC head coach
Graham Thomas. "It felt like we weren't in control."
The T-Birds took over play from opening faceoff on Saturday, outpacing the Griffins and overwhelming their opponents with a relentless forecheck. UBC tallied the game's first goal just 2:20 into the contest as
Karine Sandilands finished off a 3-on-2 rush, scoring her third goal of the season, and first of two goals on the night.
MacEwan answered just over a minute later, catching UBC on a transition rush of their own. Fourth-year Griffin Jennifer Andrash sped by the UBC defence and potted her first goal of the season past rookie T-Bird goalie
Mya Lucifora.
The line of Sandilands,
Chanreet Bassi and
Mackenzie Kordic was buzzing throughout the game, creating chances off the rush, and sustaining offensive-zone pressure. After a
Jacquelyn Fleming power play goal extended the T-Birds' lead to 2-1, Kordic stepped out from behind the net and sniped top-shelf to give her squad the 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
"They look good. I mean, they scored that first shift out together," said Thomas. "I think they like playing together. It's a good mix of some speed, some skill, some physicality, the whole thing."
The teams combined for six penalties in what would be a scoreless second period. UBC finished the game 2-for-6 on the advantage, while MacEwan went 0-for-4.
UBC's offence was simply too much for the Griffins to handle, peppering goaltender Lindsey Johnson with 44 shots in the contest. The T-Birds outshot the Griffins 77-27 over the two games.
Bassi's third goal of the season came on the power play, extending UBC's lead to 4-1. Sandilands and
Sophia Gaskell would also add third period markers to give UBC the 6-1 win.
T-Birds forward
Grace Elliott recorded two assists on the night, giving her 10 points (4G, 6A) on a five-game point-streak. Elliott leads all Canada West skaters with 15 points (6G, 9A) this season.
The Thunderbirds will hope to carry their winning momentum forward as they prepare to face the Mount Royal Cougars (7-1) at home next weekend, a team that swept the T-Birds in their only two meetings so far this season.
"We're excited for it. We're ready to go."
