Men's Hockey 10/11/2014 12:00:00 AM

COUGARS LEAVE VANCOUVER ON A WINNING NOTE

Box Score Courtesy of: UBC Sports Information

Vancouver, BC â€" Despite overcoming a two-goal deficit, the Thunderbirds fell to the Mount Royal Cougars in the first overtime frame Saturday afternoon, losing 3-2. Though the Thunderbirds had a victory slip out of their grasp, UBC managed three out of a possible four points on the weekend and gained valuable ground in the Canada West.
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Nick BuonassisiÂ scored twice for the Thunderbirds while the Cougars got scoring from three different players including Connor Collett, Rob Trzonkowski, and Tyler Fiddler, who potted the overtime winner.
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Saturday afternoon's game had a similar storyline as a week ago, as the two backup goaltenders dueled it out in the back half of the two-game weekend series, with Cam Lanigan edging outÂ Eric WilliamsÂ for the victory. Williams is still looking for his first career CIS win after the rookie got the starting nod for the second straight Saturday game.
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"It's a good feeling to get three points this weekend and to gain a bit of ground in the standings but at the same time it's a bit of a letdown knowing we could have gotten the two victories against a previously undefeated team," added Williams following Saturday's game.
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The Thunderbirds were robbed of their first weekend sweep since October 11, 2013 when the T-Birds swept the Regina Rams on the road. Again, the T-Birds remain on the brink of surpassing the .500 mark, but will have to wait another week for that opportunity.
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Early in the first, following aÂ Cole WilsonÂ goaltender interference call, the Mount Royal Cougars power play went to work. Collett was the beneficiary of a juicy rebound conceded by Williams after the UBC net minder stopped an Emerson Hrynyk point shot at 11:50 of the first period.
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No game is complete without a bit of controversy and the first period provided just that, as the T-Birds appeared to pot the equalizer on a goal that originally had been called a good goal. After the referee and linesmen convened, the goal was reversed as the puck was deemed to not have crossed the line.Â With that, the Cougars led 1-0 through one period of play.
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The Cougars would double their lead 7:10 into the second period as Trzonkowski and Collett broke away on a 2-on-1 before Collett fed Trzonkowski with a cross-ice feed. The rookie forward would go low blocker side on Williams. Trzonkowski is no stranger to the west coast as the Calgary-native played two seasons with the Vancouver Giants.
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The Thunderbirds cut into the Cougars lead with an absolute beauty as Buonassisi went bar down on Lanigan as the second year forward cut down the right wing as the T-Birds were on the PK. Not only was it Buonassisi's second goal in as many games, the Thunderbirds also added its second shorthanded goal of the weekend, giving the team the CIS lead (2) in that department. The Thunderbirds would be tasked with coming a goal down entering the third and decisive frame as the home team trailed 2-1.
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Playing in his second game of the season,Â Brad HobanÂ fed Buonassisi with a nice feed on a brief 2-on-1 who made no mistake burying his second of the game as Lanigan wasn't able to get over in time. With the score line full of twos following the goal 2:01 in the third, the intensity picked up as both teams vied for the two valuable points up for grabs.
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Williams stoned Zach Henry on a partial break with three minutes left in the frame to send the game to 4-on-4 extra time to decide Saturday's winner. Williams had a trick up his sleeve as the Cougars emptied their bench thinking they had won the game 20 seconds into overtime but the UBC goalie had the puck hiding under his pad.
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The Cougars would again clear their bench, this time on a good goal as the assistant captain Fiddler was credited with the goal as a Hrynyk point shot was deflected in, giving the D-man a multi-point night with a goal and a helper.
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In the end Williams finished the game with 26 saves while Lanigan had a solid 32-save victory in his first start of the season. Lanigan, formerly a WHL journeyman, got his first start of the year.
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UBC finished the game 0-for-3 on the power play, again plagued by the strong penalty kill on the part of the Cougars while Mount Royal finished 1-for-3 as they improve to 5-1-0 on the season. The Thunderbirds drop to 2-2-2 with the overtime loss, but have plenty to build off of moving forward as the team sits in a tie for third in the Canada West ahead of tonight's remaining games.
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"The focus for us will be working hard in practice and making sure we play our game for a full 60 minutes going forward, something we didn't quite do this weekend" said the rookie net minder, who also managed an assist on the second T-Birds' goal.
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The Thunderbirds continue their home stand next weekend as UBC hosts the Lethbridge Pronghorns for a pair of very winnable games, as the Pronghorns are winless on the season as of Saturday afternoon.Â

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Players Mentioned

#5 Ben Scott: Defence; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#21 Matt Strong: Defence; 6' 4"; Fourth Year

#11 Brett Zarazun: Defence; 6' 2"; Second Year

#22 Matthew Brown: Forward; 6' 0"; Fourth Year

#15 Cam Maclise: Forward; 6' 3"; Second Year

Players Mentioned

#5 Ben Scott
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: Defence

#21 Matt Strong
: 6' 4"; Fourth Year
: Defence

#11 Brett Zarazun
: 6' 2"; Second Year
: Defence

#22 Matthew Brown
: 6' 0"; Fourth Year
: Forward

#15 Cam Maclise
: 6' 3"; Second Year
: Forward