EDMONTON - Elisa Hugens stopped 34/35 shots to help lead the UBC Thunderbirds in a tight and physical 2-1 victory over the Alberta Pandas Saturday afternoon.

There were a total of 45 penalty minutes handed out, 33 for the Thunderbirds, in what was a continuation of some hard-nosed hockey played all weekend between the two squads. UBC was able to capitalize on the advantage courtesy of Ashton Thorpe, while the Pandas were shutout on the powerplay by a stellar Thunderbirds penalty kill, going an incredible 8/8 on the day. Mackenzie McCallum's second period goal was the difference in this one, with nobody finding twine for the last 30 minutes of gameplay.

Reagan Yewdall buried the only goal for the Alberta Pandas, who dropped to 5-3-0 with the loss but still sit second in the division. UBC moves to 6-2-0 and has the potential to leap into first place with a Mount Royal loss later today.

The goaltending was stellar in this contest from both sides, Alberta's Misty Rey saving 18/20 on the day, but her counterpart in Hugens was a difference-maker for the Thunderbirds. She made 34 saves and came up with some huge saves on the penalty kill to keep the Pandas off the board.

The Pandas wasted no time getting going in this one, as Yewdall tucked home her first goal of the season just 2:52 into the game on a scrambled puck in front of Hugens. However, despite a marked Pandas offensive improvement from the previous game, the penalty troubles spilled over into this frame and UBC was able to capitalize with Thorpe burying her first of the season on a hard wrister from the point to tie the game at 1-1. The Thunderbirds were actually the less disciplined team overall in the frame, sending Alberta on a powerplay an astounding four times, but the penalty kill was incredible, blanking the Pandas on all advantages.

The second was full of fireworks, starting with a rebound goal from McCallum, her second on the year, off a wicked wrist shot from Grace Elliott that just trickled out of Rey's reach to make it 2-1 Thunderbirds. The physicality between the two squads picked up, with Mackenzie Kordic getting a five-minute major and subsequent ejection midway through the frame, but the Pandas were again unable to capitalize with the extra player. At the intermission they had outshot UBC in the frame, but Hugens was stellar, turning aside all 11 Alberta shots on goal.

The final frame saw seven penalties called as the teams jockeyed for control of the game. To their credit the Pandas dominated the final frame, outshooting the visitors 15-4 amidst lots of powerplay looks. However, Hugens stood tall, setting aside all Pandas chances including an Alberta onslaught with the net empty with a minute remaining en route to the 2-1 victory.
 

The Pandas head into a bye weekend and will next face MacEwan in a home-and-home series starting November 8th. The Thunderbirds play host to the same Griffins back home in Vancouver next weekend.