Lethbridge – CIS fourth ranked UBC Thunderbirds completed a perfect two game trip through Alberta with a 2-1 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns, spoiling the Pronghorns final home game of the season.
The loss drops the 'Horns to 2-7-3 and extends their losing streak to five games. With only one weekend left in conference play, the 'Horns are barely hanging on to a playoff spot. With Mount Royal's win today over the UBCO Heat, the Cougars move within one point of the Pronghorns for fifth spot.
For the Thunderbirds, the win improves their record to 10-1-1 on the season and for the time being move ahead of the Trinity Western Spartans for top spot in the West Division.
From the opening kick-off the Thunderbirds held large chunks of continuous pressure but the 'Horns defended well to shut down UBC pressure and when the Thunderbirds did get a shot off, they struggled to find the mark.
After a stalemate for the first 35 minutes, the Thunderbird broke the goose egg. From top of the box, Jasmin Dhanda's shot hit the outstretched hands of 'Horns keeper Micaela Stone but Stone could not secure the save and it dropped into the net.
Dhanda looked to double the lead before halftime in what looked like a clear look at goal, but 'Horns defender Kim Shellenberg recovered to deflect Dhanda's shot wide.
UBC attempted 11 shots in the opening half but only had three on goal. The 'Horns were only able to muster two shot attempts in the opening half and spent most of their time on the defensive.
Directly off the restart, the Thunderbirds doubled their lead with Shayla Chorney scoring her third goal of the season.
The Thunderbirds continued to push the 'Horns into a defensive stance and nearly upped the lead to three in the 72nd minute. Amelia Crawford perfectly timed her run to beat the 'Horns offside trap and went in alone but Stone came off her line to make a solid sliding save.
The 'Horns finally generated a quality scoring chance in the second half and they capitalized. Morag Paterson played the ball into the box and slipped through to the back post, for a waiting Claire Joyce to tap into the open corner for her first CIS goal.
That goal revitalized a Pronghorn team that had spent much of the game stuck in a defensive posture but they could not find the equalizer in the final six minutes
At the final whistle the stats heavily favored the visitors, UBC finished the day with 21 shot attempts to the 'Horns three and the Thunderbirds had 8 corners, while the 'Horns did not receive a single corner
The 'Horns head out on the for the final weekend of conference action next week, traveling to face the Mount Royal Cougars and MacEwan Griffins with their playoff lives hanging in the balance. The Thunderbirds will conclude their conference action with two home games versus the Fraser Valley Cascades and Trinity Western Spartans with the top spot in the Division on the line.