SASKATOON, Sask. – A two-goal deficit was not enough to keep the Thunderbirds down, as UBC (5-1-0) rallied with three straight tallies to pull off a comeback 3-2 win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (4-3) and sweep the weekend series at Merlis Belsher Place.
Saskatchewan came out flying and opened the scoring just 13 seconds into the game.
Shelby Williamson finished a chance created by
Jacquelyne Chief, giving the Huskies an immediate 1-0 advantage and energizing the home crowd. It was Williamson's second goal of the season.
The Huskies doubled their lead midway through the first period when
Peppi Virtanen found the back of the net at 8:29.
Anna Benoit picked up the lone assist on Virtanen's second goal of the campaign, sending Saskatchewan into the intermission with a 2-0 lead despite being outshot 7-6 in the frame.
UBC began to shift momentum in the second period, generating sustained offensive pressure after recording 14 shots in the middle frame. The Thunderbirds cut the deficit to one at 3:38 when
Kate Chuback scored off a feed from
Audrey Church. Just over five minutes later,
Jacquelyn Fleming tied the game 2-2 with her first goal of the season, assisted by
Vanessa Schaefer.
The game remained deadlocked entering the third period before a Saskatchewan penalty provided UBC with its opportunity to take the lead. With the Thunderbirds on the power play,
Leila Sinclair converted at 5:39, finishing a play set up by
Cassidy Rhodes and Chuback for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Saskatchewan pushed for the equalizer late but was unable to solve UBC goaltender
Adriana Almeida, who stopped 14 of 16 shots to earn the win. The Huskies managed just three shots in the final period and 16 overall.
The Thunderbirds finished with a 29-16 edge in shots and went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Saskatchewan was unable to convert on its three opportunities with the extra skater.
After playing five of six games on the road to start the season, UBC returns to Doug Mitchell Thunderbirds Sports Centre to host the undefeated Mount Royal Cougars (5-0-0) for a highly anticipated back-to-back next weekend.
