BOX SCORE CALGARY – In a thriller at Father David Bauer Arena, the UBC Thunderbirds got the equalizer in the Canada West women's hockey Championship series as they defeated the Calgary Dinos 5-4 in what took an extra two periods.
 
The Thunderbirds scored the all important overtime goal just 19 seconds into the second overtime of the game. Stephanie Schaupmeyer beat goaltender Amanda Tapp on the first shot of the period, going five-hole to force Game 3.
 
Both teams will have another chance to take the title on Sunday at 4 p.m. as it will be the deciding game for the Canada West women's hockey champion.
 
The game got off to a quick start with some physical play from both teams. It was the Thunderbirds who got on the board first. Less than six minutes in on their first power play of the game, UBC's rookie forward Nicole Saxvik took advantage of the extra man on the ice and scored the opening goal. Tatiana Rafter and Kaylee Chanakos picked up the assists.
 
Right off the faceoff, the Thunderbirds scored once again and just six seconds following the first goal for a new Canada West record. A wrister from second-year defenceman Cailey Hay beat goaltender Amanda Tapp to give the visitors a 2-0 lead in a hurry.
 
The Dinos knew they were in deep, but Erika Mitschke closed the gap at the 14 minute mark. Working the puck down low on the power play, a pass across the front of the net from Iya Gavrilova found it's way onto Mitschke's stick and she went top shelf for Calgary's first goal of the game. Jenna Smith got the other assist on the play.
 
In the second period, both goalies were making big saves and the biggest came from Danielle Dube when Hayley Wickenheiser had her all alone in front. The 2013 Player of the Year was unable to capitalize.
 
UBC'S third goal came 11 minutes into the second. With the Dinos unable to clear the puck, a bad turnover lead to an open Rafter. Her shot, with the assist from Christi Capozzi, beat Tapp to go ahead 3-1.
 
Less than two minutes left in the period the Dinos closed the gap once again, this time on a tough goal as Gavrilova's pass across ice hit the stick of a UBC defenceman. The period ended 3-2.
 
The tying goal for the Dinos finally came in the third. A shot from the point from Gavrilova seemed to have been stopped by Dube, but the puck trickled through and into the crease. Smith was the first to get an eye on the puck and banged it in.
 
The game went down to the wire as both teams scored within the final three minutes of the game. In what UBC thought was the winning goal at 16:44, the Dinos got the equalizer once again with 42 seconds left from Melissa Zubick.
 
-UC-