Box Score CALGARY – The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds women's hockey team extended their winning streak to five games with a 2-0 shutout over the Mount Royal University Cougars. 

Heading into Friday's tilt, both the T-Birds and Cougars sat atop their respective divisions. UBC is also the current no. 1 team in the country, with MRU ranking sixth.

The first game back from the semester break turned out to be a low-event contest, with a combined 29 shots on goal between the two juggernaut clubs.

UBC netminder Elise Hugens continued her dream season, staying undefeated and collecting her fourth shutout of the campaign by stopping all 13 shots she faced. 

The Thunderbirds displayed impeccable defence all game, holding the Cougars to the outside and allow Hugens to make routine saves.

The nation's leading scorer and MVP frontrunner Grace Elliott opened the scoring for the T-Birds midway through the first. Elliott's hard wrist shot rang off the post before trickling across the line. MRU goalie Scout Anderson did all she could to keep the puck out but the sprawling effort was not enough to deny Elliott.

Anderson was steady between the pipes for MRU, making 15 saves in the loss.

Mount Royal bounced back with a much better second period, beginning to pressure the T-Birds in their own zone. Despite the added chances, the Cougars could not find twine.

Gabby Lindsay had Mount Royal's best chance to beat Hugens on a two-on-one opportunity but was denied.

The added pressure continued into the third but the T-Birds could not be beaten. Fourth-year forward Jacquelyn Fleming added an empty net late to wrap it up for UBC.

MRU veteran blueliner Jori Hansen-Young was tasked with a big assignment of containing the high-powered Thunderbird offence but knew they team had to stay level headed on their play.

"Obviously they're a very talented group but we try to focus more on us," said Hansen-Young. "We have to respect that they're first in the country right now but our process stays the same no matter who we're playing."

Hansen-Young and the Cougars hope to regroup for Saturday's rematch and feel they can build off their effort on Friday, despite the loss.

"I think we just need to capitalize on our chances tomorrow. It felt like a pretty even game and at points it felt like we were outplaying them. We're looking forward to tomorrow; it's the best way to play hockey when it's tight like this," said Hansen-Young.

Saturday's puck drop is set for 5 p.m. MST at Flames Community Arena.