Haughn's hat trick helps T-Birds to win in regular season finale

VANCOUVER – Hannah Haughn (North Vancouver) scored a hat trick on Sunday to lead her UBC Thunderbirds to a 5-3 Canada West women's field hockey triumph over the Calgary Dinos, whose second-half comeback fell short at Wright Field in Vancouver.

Emily Martin (North Vancouver) and Alyssa Nonis (Port Moody, B.C.) had the other Thunderbirds goals while Danica Heath, Jessica Britton and Janelle Rice found the net for the visiting Dinos.

"I think there was more urgency with our forwards to get ahead of their defenders, and as a result, our next two lines were able to move up into the spaces they created," said UBC head coach Robin D'Abreo of his team's offensive execution. "We were able to generate more numbers in attack and as a result, generate more options. I don't think we're there yet, but it was a significant improvement from yesterday's effort."

Haughn's second goal of the game came in the 50th minute and turned out to be the game winner, although at the time, it made the score 4-1. After receiving a transfer from the back end, Haughn pushed her shot past Calgary goalie Beckett Frisch.

The Dinos came back with two goals in a minute to close to 4-3. In the 62nd, Britton used a drag flick to score off a penalty corner. After play restarted, Calgary got a turnover and regained possession. Rice drove down the right side and fired a shot from a nearly impossible angle close to the base line that found the back of the net.

The Dinos pressed for the tying goal but Haughn sealed the victory with her hat trick goal just three minutes from time.

Haughn was the injector on the penalty corner and moved the ball into play to Sophie Jones (West Vancouver) at the top of the circle. Jones then returned a pass back to Haughn, who was free on the left side to knock the ball into the open net.

The game opened with three goals in quick succession.

The Dinos converted on the first opportunity for either team on Sunday, scoring on a penalty corner in the second minute, as Heath's drag flick found the low left corner of the net.

In the ninth minute, Haughn levelled the match with a hard shot from the top of the scoring circle.

Just four minutes after that, Gabby Jayme (Richmond, B.C.) blocked a Calgary shot off a corner and started a quick breakout by passing the ball to Amy Jones (West Vancouver), who then found Niki Best (Coquitlam, B.C.). Best then delivered a reverse pass to Martin in front of the net, and she converted the opportunity to make it 2-1 for UBC.

Nonis scored the third Thunderbirds goal in the 32nd minute. Haughn one-time tipped a pass from Martin over to Nonis, who slid the ball under Frisch to give the T-Birds a seemingly safe lead going into the half.

The victory allows UBC to finish the regular season with a 4-3-1 record while Calgary will enter the final weekend of the 2015-16 campaign with an 0-6 mark. The Dinos will travel to Victoria for a pair of games against the Vikes next week.

UBC will prepare for the CIS women's field hockey championship Nov. 5-8 in Victoria.

SCORING SUMMARY
CGY: 1 – 2 : 3
UBC: 3 – 2 : 5

2' – CGY Danica Heath – PC – CGY 1-0
9' – UBC Hannah Haughn – FG - 1–1
13' – UBC Emily Martin – FG – UBC 2-1
32' – UBC Alyssa Nonis – FG – UBC 3-1

50' – UBC Hannah Haughn – FG – UBC 4-1
62' – CGY Jessica Britton – PC – UBC 4-2
63' – CGY Janelle Rice – FG – UBC 4-3
67' – UBC Hannah Haughn – PC – UBC 5-3

CARDS
CGY – Emma Thunnissen (GC – 43', YC – 49')
UBC – None

GOALTENDING
CGY – Beckett Frisch - 70 minutes played, 5 goals against
UBC – Gabrielle Switzer - 70 minutes played, 3 goals against

IMAGE CREDIT: Rich Lam/UBC Thunderbirds