Box Score
CALGARY –  The Mount Royal University Cougars threw everything they had at the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday but it was not enough. Despite MRU outshooting UBC 38-20, the visiting Thunderbirds were able to secure a 5-1 win at Flames Community Arenas. 

Fifth-year forward Mackenzie Kordic opened the scoring for the T-Birds partway through the opening frame. Meadow Carman's point shot sifted its way through traffic with Kordic getting a piece of it to redirect the puck into the net. 

The Thunderbirds doubled their lead with a goal off the stick of Mya Healy. Playing in her hometown, Healy's goal was the first of her four-year career in Canada West women's hockey.

However, UBC's 2-0 lead lasted just 16 seconds. A Thunderbird turnover put the puck right on Cougars' captain Lyndsey Janes' stick, giving MRU a 2-on-1. Janes slid a pass over to Gabby Lindsay who went bar-down to give Mount Royal their first goal of the weekend.

Despite a marginal shift in momentum after Lindsay's marker, the T-Birds were able to recapture control of the game after restoring their two-goal lead. 

Grace Elliott showed why she's regarded as the league's best player, going end-to-end and tucking the puck past the outstretched leg of MRU netminder Scout Anderson. Elliott's combination of size and speed was too much for the Cougars on the forward's insurance goal.

Mackenzie Kordic scored her second of the game late in the second by collecting her own rebound and swiftly shoving the puck underneath Anderson.

The Cougars suffered another setback when veteran forward Ava Metzger was forced to exit the game after sustaining an injury. 

Although Mount Royal had been playing a better game than Friday's 5-0 loss, they faced an intense uphill battle with 20 minutes remaining.

The main story of the weekend for the Cougars was the inability to capitalize on the powerplays they were awarded throughout the weekend. MRU went 0/13 on the man-advantage with the Thunderbirds doing an outstanding job of blocking shots and keeping pucks away from goalie Elise Hugens.

When Hugens was tested, she answered the bell. The UBC netminder made 38 saves on Saturday, which included stopping all 19 shots from MRU in the third period.

Grace Elliott added an empty net goal for her second of the game and league-leading 15th of the season to make it 5-1. Elliott's goal sealed the win and a sweep for the Thunderbirds.

The 13-4-3 Cougars will look to bounce back next weekend with a pair of games against the MacEwan Griffins. Mount Royal will start the weekend on the road before heading to Canmore to play the second game as a part of Hockey Day in Canada. Both games can be streamed live on Canada West TV – Powered by BioSteel.