Lethbridge – For the second week in a row, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women's hockey team heads out on the road to face a nationally ranked opponent. This week, the Pronghorns travel to Vancouver to face the U Sports top ranked UBC Thunderbirds.
 
The Pronghorns and T-Birds will hit the ice in Vancouver Friday night at 7:00pm and Saturday afternoon at 4:00pm. Both times are Pacific Time and can be viewed on www.canadawest.tv.
 
Still mathematically alive for a post-season berth (3-15-1-3) the Pronghorns will have to run the table and get some help if they are to move up the standings. Any combination of the Pronghorns loss and a Mount Royal win officially eliminates the Pronghorns from the playoff picture.
 
Statistically, this weekend's series is a mismatch on paper as the top ranked T-Birds (15-3-3-1) have scored the most goals in Canada West with 74, while allowing the third fewest goals against (39). At the other end of the spectrum, the 'Horns are tied for the fewest goals scored in Canada West with the Calgary Dinos with 31 goals in 22 games. The 'Horns have also allowed the second most goals against (74).
 
UBC swept the 'Horns in Lethbridge during their series the first weekend in November. The T-Birds won 5-1 and 4-3.
 
The T-Birds swept the 'Horns in Vancouver earlier this season but both games went to double overtime. UBC won 4-3 and 3-2.
 
With three weekends remaining in the conference schedule, the Pronghorns are ranked fifth in goals for with 67 but are ranked seventh in goals against, allowing 80 goals in 22 games. The Thunderbirds have scored the second fewest goals this season in the conference with 54 and have allowed the third most goals against with 77.
 
Tricia Van Vaerenbergh scored the lone Pronghorn goal last weekend in Winnipeg and leads the team in scoring with five goals and four assists. Jodi Gentile and Jenae Culp are tied for second with seven points each.
 
UBC has three players sitting among the top 10 scorers in Canada West, with Nicole Saxvik leading the T-Birds with 11 goals and 11 assists, good enough for a tie for third in Canada West scoring. Cassandra Vilgrain sits second on the T-Birds with 5 goals and 16 assists. Her 16 assists are tied for second most in the conference but she has missed the last four games.
 
The Pronghorns will return home next weekend for their final home games of the season, hosting U Sports eighth ranked Alberta Pandas.