YouTube highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H3tGY6hnXo

Cougars lose 3-2 to UBC

by Chelsea Craig - UBC Thunderbirds

VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team fought off the last-placed Mount Royal Cougars to earn a 3-2 win on Friday night at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver.

 The win marks UBC's third straight victory and improves their season record to 19-5-1, while the Cougars' four-game win streak comes to a halt, leaving them in an even tougher position in their fight to earn a playoff spot, as their record slumps to 7-15-3 on the season. The win also marked the Thunderbirds' 11th straight victory on home ice, improving to 12-0-1 on the season.

Tatiana Rafter, Stephanie Schaupmeyer and Christi Capozzi scored the goals for the home side while Mt. Royal replied with tallies from Tanika Dawson and Shyla Stadnicki.
 
With UBC up 2-1 through two periods, each team exchanged exciting offensive pushes as the puck shifted from end to end throughout the final frame. Finally, with 4:49 remaining Thunderbird captain Capozzi's point shot was tipped in by Canada West leading scorer Rafter to increase her team's lead 3-1. However, the Cougars, with an extra attacker on the ice, cut the lead to one with just 1:05 remaining as Stadnicki tipped a shot past Danielle Dube to make it a 3-2 game. However, that would be all the scoring on the night as the 'Birds held on for the one goal victory.
 
Dictating play right from the opening whistle, UBC took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when Rafter beat Cougar netminder Jess Ross on a clean breakaway that was set up by a great feed from Cailey Hay at her own blue line. The first 20 minutes drew to a close with the home team maintaining the majority of possession and leading in shots 8-6.
 
Just under nine minutes into the second period and a second after a 'Birds power play expired, assistant captain Schaupmeyer put her team up 2-0 on a play choreographed smoothly by Rebecca Unrau and i Capozzi. However, Mount Royal was quick to respond under a minute later as Tanika Dawson scored their first goal of the night, beating UBC's Dube on an odd-man rush.
 
Despite having a lengthy two-man advantage with five minutes remaining in the second frame, the Cougars couldn't find a way to even the score. The situation remained 2-1 entering the final intermission.
  
The 'Birds were 1-for-5 on the power play for the evening, while the Cougars had no success, going 0-for-4.

Rafter's two goals now gives her 19 on the season, tops in the Canada West. She also leads the conference in points with 35, eight more than Saskatchewan's Cami Wooster.
 
Dube clinched the win for the Thunderbirds, pushing aside 21 of 23 shots she faced. For Mt. Royal, Ross suffered the loss despite stopping 23 of 26 shots.
 
These two teams will do battle again Saturday as the Thunderbirds play their final home game of the regular season. Puck drop is at 2 p.m. at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.