Box Score
Lethbridge – The Lethbridge Pronghorn women's hockey team took the nation's top team to the brink but in the end the UBC Thunderbirds completed the weekend sweep of the Pronghorns with a 4-3 win in overtime.
Second-year goaltender was the story of the game for the Pronghorns, stealing her team a point with the overtime loss, making 48 saves, including 12 saves in third.
For the Thunderbirds, Kathleen Cahoon was the offensive catalyst all night, recording a hat trick, including the power play winner only 59-seconds into the extra frame.
The loss drops the 'Horns record to 2-5-1-2, while the T-Birds improve to 7-1-2-0.
Building off a big third period Friday night, the Thunderbirds put the 'Horns on their heels early, pinning the 'Horns in their own end in the early going but it would be the Pronghorns who would open the scoring.
After the teams combined for 0 for 15 on the power play Friday night, the 'Horns would strike on their first advantage. Mattie Apperson's one-timer from the blue line beat Tori Micklash for her first of the season.
The 'Horns added to their lead only five minutes later as Chelsea Kasprick slid past a T-Bird defender and went in alone, beating Micklash high glove.
Another T-Bird penalty put the 'Horns on the power play but it would be the T-Birds that would cut the 'Horns lead in half with a shorthanded marker. Kathleen Cahoon fought off a 'Horns defender and slid the puck across her body into the low right corner past 'Horns keeper Alicia Anderson.
Starting the second on the power play, the Thunderbirds brought the game level with their first power play marker of the weekend. Hannah Clayton-Carroll's one-timer from the slot beat Anderson blocker side.
The ice tilted in favor of the T-Birds for much of the period with the 'Horns only registering one shot on goal through the first 14 minutes of the period, but despite being outshot badly it would be the 'Horns who would regain their lead.
While shorthanded, Tricia Van Vaerenbergh cut to the front of the net and beat Micklash with a backhand high glove side.
With the 'Horns shorthanded again and this time down two players, the Thunderbirds tied the game again with less than a minute to play. Cahoon scored her second of the day and fourth of the season.
The Thunderbirds outshot the 'Horns 22 to 3 in the period, which was added by four power play opportunities and 34 to 8 through 40 minutes.
Cahoon came dangerously close to breaking the deadlock and completing the hat trick earlier in the third period but Anderson just got a piece of her shot, which changed the trajectory enough to find the crossbar.
Anderson kept the 'Horns in the game, as her team was held without a shot for the first 12 minutes of the third. The T-Birds had eight shots during that stretch.
The 'Horns took a penalty with less than a minute remaining in regulation time, setting up Cahoo's heroics in overtime and her fourth goal of the weekend. Cassandra Vilgrain's shot went off the post and right to Cahoo at the backdoor and she was able bang home the winner.
The entire Canada West women's league has a bye next weekend. The 'Horns will return to action the following week in a home-and-home series with the Mount Royal Cougar, beginning in Calgary Friday night. The T-Birds will host the Regina Cougars for a pair of games at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
