Box Score Vancouver, BC – Three power play goals and a breakout performance by Jaedon Cooke powered the UBC Thunderbirds (1-1-0-0) to a 4-1 win over the Manitoba Bisons (1-1-0-0) in women's hockey on Saturday, October 7 afternoon to split the season opening series at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. The weekend series series was split as Manitoba won 5-4 on Friday.
Like a team on a mission, the 'Birds took a 3-0 lead by the late stages of the opening period while making the Bisons pay by scoring on each of their first three power plays.
UBC got into some penalty trouble once again with the Bisons scoring their only goal of the game on a 5-on-3 second period power play courtesy of Erica Rieder.
Manitoba pressed as expected in the final 20 minutes but the 'Birds didn't give the visitors much time or space with the puck while Tory Micklash put up a strong performance in net with 21 saves for her first win of the season.
For the second straight game Logan Boyd opened scoring for the 'Birds, this time at the 10:10 mark of the opening period.
UBC doubled their lead just over three minutes later when Ireland Perrott scored her first as a Thunderbird with a beautiful quick release placing the puck just under the crossbar.
After assisting on the 'Birds' first two goals, Cooke got one of her own, also on the man advantage, at 17:45, her first tally as a T-Bird.Hannah Clayton-Carroll got her first of the season early in the second, also on the power play.
Rachel Dyck allowed three goals on nine UBC shots in the first period and was replaced in the Bisons' net by
Lauren Taraschuk to start the second.
After failing to score on the power play in Friday night's season opener, the 'Birds went 3-for-6 in Saturday's rematch holding the Bisons to one goal on five opportunities.
In 19 games as a rookie last season Cooke had one assist while her three-point game Saturday gives her four in just two games to start the 2017-18 campaign.
The 'Birds will now focus on the Dinos as they head to Calgary for their first road trip of the Season next Friday and Saturday while Manitoba goes back home to host the Alberta Pandas on October 13 and 14 at the Wayne Fleming Arena.
