VANCOUVER – A talented UBC Thunderbirds offence was on full display with their season on the line on Sunday afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

UBC opened up a 5-0 lead through two periods and held off the University of Calgary Dinos women's hockey team for a 6-2 win in Game 3 of their Canada West semifinal series.

The T-Birds will have the opportunity to earn a three-peat in the conference final next weekend on their home ice. They got goals from six different players as Cassidy Rhodes, Madisyn Wiebe, Ashton Thorpe, Makenzie McCallum, Grace Elliott, and Chanreet Bassi each found the back of the net.

The first goal of the game came less than four minutes into the contest as the Thunderbirds caused a turnover and blitzed the Dinos' net with three attackers.

Trailing by two heading into the middle frame, Calgary came out with a burst of energy, but it all came undone with a defensive giveaway as UBC opened up a 3-0 lead.

The Dinos got their chances – but all game long – it seemed whenever they came close, the T-Birds went the other way and capitalized. 

Goaltender Gabriella Durante was the Dinos' most valuable player in the post-season and finished with 18 saves in her final game of the year. 

Rookie defenceman Brooklin Fry got Calgary on the scoresheet with a point shot at the end of a power play in the third period. Josie McLeod added another and completed the series with three points.

Elise Hugens made timely saves when called upon in the T-Birds' net and picked up a 17-save win.

The Dinos graduate four players this season – Brooke Dennett, Courtney Kollman, Elizabeth Lang, Dana Wood. 

-UC-