BOX SCORE VANCOUVER - In a rematch of last year's Canada West final, the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team blanked the Calgary Dinos 4-0 in their regular season home opener Friday night at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
Tatiana Rafter scored twice while Stephanie Schaupmeyer and Melissa Goodwin, with her first-ever CIS tally, chipped in with the other goals.
Showing absolute dominance in the first period, UBC jumped out to a three-goal advantage over the Dinos before the first intermission, and due to the resilience of netminder Danielle Lemon they would carry through to the end of the game without allowing a single goal. It was Lemon's first CIS shutout
After a scoreless opening 15 minutes UBC would kick in to high gear in the final five minutes, scoring three goals.
The first of the three came from a wraparound by Tatiana Rafter off a play set up by Sarah Casorso and Nicole Saxvik.
Almost immediately following, Saxvik sprung forward Stephanie Schaupmeyer on a break and she beat Dinos netminder Amanda Tapp to put the Thunderbirds in front 2-0.
The third goal was another from Rafter on the man-advantage, as her backhand went off a Dinos defenseman and in. Nikola Brown-John assisted on the play. 3-0 was the lead through 20 minutes.
In the second period, UBC produced a fourth goal when Melissa Goodwin masterfully tipped a hard shot by Casorso directly past the unsuspecting Calgary goaltender, Amanda Tapp. Goodwin's goal was her first in a Thunderbird jersey.
Desperate to dig themselves out of a four-goal deficit, the Dinos managed a few close chances to keep the 'Birds on their toes. However, Lemon was a wall in net, making a number of key saves. She would not waver, and the period would end before the Dinos could muster a goal.
The onus was on UBC to maintain their deserving lead entering the third frame, and that was precisely what they did throughout the third.
With five minutes remaining in the game, Stephanie Payne was sent to the box on a boarding penalty. Despite firing a number of shots from a distance, the Dinos still could not beat Lemon, who would record the shutout. 4-0 was the final score.
UBC finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play, while Calgary went 0-for-7.
Lemon stopped all 26 shots she faced for her first carer win and first career shutout.
These two teams will be back at it again tomorrow afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. Puck drop is at 2 p.m. Prior to the opening faceoff the Thunderbirds will raise the 2013 Canada West Championship banner to the rafters, the first in the program's history.
