WINNIPEG, Man. -
Grace Elliott's Canada West-leading 10th goal and 21
st point served as the game-winner on Friday night at Wayne Fleming Arena, as the No. 2 nationally ranked UBC Thunderbirds took game one against the No. 10 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons.
The win ensured UBC remained above Mount Royal for first in the West Division, with 12 wins in 15 games, and 25 points. Manitoba fell to 8-4-0-1, but remains in a playoff spot in Canada West's East Division.'
Meadow Carman scored her first goal as a T-Bird while
Elise Hugens notched her 10
th win of the season, also improving her goals against average to a stellar 1.36. Hugens also became the fastest goaltender in Canada West history to reach 50 career wins.
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The Thunderbirds got themselves started with a tremendous defensive effort, minimizing time in their own zone and playing an aggressive style of hockey.
Meadow Carman found the back of the net 11:02 into the first period after a clean perimeter cycle of the puck eluded the Bisons' defenders. Manitoba had four skaters caught on the ice for an extended period of time and when they were unable to get fresh legs on, UBC took advantage and notched the early lead.Â
Chanreet Bassi, playing in the middle of UBC's offensive zone attack, would push into the hash marks and make a drop pass back to Carman who sent the shot low blocker side of Emily Shippam.
Manitoba would get their first shot of the game minutes later as Sadie Keller and Brenna Nicol found themselves on a two-on-one chance, but the stick of a Thunderbirds defender broke the passing lane up. Keller shot the puck just low of
Elise Hugens' glove, but she hit the post and the game remained 1-0 for UBC.
After Manitoba flew out of the gate with pressure to open the second frame, UBC pushed back. The visitors had an excellent chance on a three-on-one, but Shippam came up big with a pad stop.
Following Shippam's big save and a crucial Bisons penalty kill, Manitoba continued to mount the pressure.
A great sequence with extended offensive zone time and puck possession for Manitoba nearly resulted in a goal. A two-on-zero cross-crease pass was ultimately robbed by Hugens' glove.
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Manitoba continued their push into the third period, but an early goal by Elliott halted the Herd's momentum. After Shippam made two quick saves, a rebound sprung loose and Ellliott was able to shelf the puck upstairs for the eventual game-winner.
Manitoba's captain, Kylie Lesuk, had a big chance to get the Bisons on the board and bring Manitoba within one goal. Lesuk beat Hugens high blocker side but was denied by the crossbar.
Minutes after Lesuk's breakaway,
Makenzie McCallum capitalized on the other end with a power-play marker. A loose puck found her stick amidst the chaos that broke in front of the Bisons net.
Manitoba's aggressive forecheck to the net finally paid off as Evangeline Hill potted her first U SPORTS goal off of a nice tip-in to bring Manitoba back within two goals. Sophia Anderson would get the puck to Louise Fergusson who shot it into heavy traffic in front of the net before Hill got her stick on the puck and knocked it in the net to put the Bisons on the board.
Manitoba pulled Shippam in the dying minutes of the game, but couldn't rally for the comeback.
The two teams are back in action for a rematch at 1:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday.
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