SASKATOON, Sask. – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's hockey team carried a two-goal lead out of the opening period, but three unanswered goals from the UBC Thunderbirds lifted the visitors to a 3-2 victory Saturday evening (Oct. 31) 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 6-7 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.
Goaltender
Emma Backman was busy throughout the contest, turning aside 26 of 29 UBC shots. 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.
Saskatchewan heads on the road next for a weekend series against the Trinity Western Spartans in Langley, BC.
