BOX SCORE CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team defeated the University of Manitoba Bisons 4-0 Friday night at Father David Bauer Arena. The Dinos were led by fifth-year forward Alli Borrow, who netted her first career U SPORTS hat trick.

Borrow, who scored all three goals consecutively and one every period, was quick to shift credit the team as a whole.

"It (the hat trick) felt awesome. I thought the energy was great today and that helped me get there. Our game plan coming in was just to get pucks on net. We've averaged a goal a game in the past so tonight it was all about getting pucks in deep and crashing the net hard. I think that's what helped us win tonight."

Following a pair of failed power play conversions early, Borrow opened up the scoring for Calgary in the first period. The Clearwater, B.C. native jetted down the left wing and received a tape-to-tape pass from Sophia Zuck deep in her own end. Once she had the puck, Borrow kicked it into high gear, gliding past the Manitoba defenders and cutting across the front of the net. With just the goalie Meagan Relf to beat, Borrow blasted the puck into the top corner of the net. The goal came with just 3:12 remaining in the first period and was representative of the period overall, as Calgary outshot the Bisons 13-2 in the first.

The second period opened with the Dinos once again on the power play. Despite allowing the final score, Manitoba managed to stifle Calgary when they were down a skater, successfully killing off all five Dinos power plays. One big reason was Bisons goalie, Meagen Relf. The netminder did everything in her power to keep this game close, turning away shot after shot in what seemed like an endless barrage being sent her way by Calgary. Relf would finish with 34 saves on the night. However, Calgary's relentless energy was able to crack Relf again in the second period. Zuck picked up her second assist of the night as she whipped the puck out from behind the Bisons net to a perfectly positioned Borrow. Borrow wasted no time, one-timing past a helpless Relf. The Dinos would go on to hold the 2-0 lead for the remainder of the period.

The best opportunity for the Bisons may have been in the opening minutes of the third period. Manitoba found themselves on the power play just two minutes into the frame. However, Manitoba was unable to find a way to break through Calgary's defence. Gabriella Durante recorded her third shutout of the season with an ironclad 23-save performance. Although Durante did not face a high volume of shots, she consistently made the big save when her team needed her to. Durante showed positional and technical excellence, as she often angled the puck out of harm's way, shutting down opportunities before they could manifest.

Shortly after the Dinos killed off the Bisons power play, almost like it was scripted, a loose puck bounced its way onto Borrow's stick in front of Manitoba's net. Borrow buried her third goal of the game to complete the hat trick. With eight minutes to play in the third period, Elizabeth Lang received a sharp pass in front of the net from Sydney Mercier and Lang ripped home her fourth of the season, extending the Dinos lead 4-0.

The Dinos and Bisons face off again tomorrow night. Saturday's matchup will begin at 3 p.m and will be played at Father David Bauer Arena. 

-UC-