ELMIRA, ON - The Pandas closed out their 2024/25 season with a 5-1 Consolation Final loss to UBC, placing 6th at the 2025 U SPORTS Championship at Waterloo.Â
The Pandas were out-shot 36-21 in a rematch of the Canada West Final, with the result flipping and UBC earning the win on Sunday morning.Â
Sunday marked the final game for graduating Pandas Taylor Anker, Allison Reich, Madison Willan, Izzy Lajoie, Brooklyn Tews, and Payton Laumbach.
Natalie Kieser scored the lone Alberta goal in the third period, with Grace Glover and Mackenzie Dojahn combining for 31 saves in the loss. Dojahn stopped 14 of the 15 shots she faced in the third period in what was her first appearance in net since January 4th.Â
Mackenzie Kordic scored twice for UBC, along with goals from Jacquelyn Fleming, Mackenzie McCallum, and Grace Elliott. Elise Hugens stopped 20 of the 21 Alberta shots she faced.Â
UBC opened the scoring midway through the first, as Annalise Wong drew two Pandas defenders to the wall, before feeling Fleming in front, who beat Glover over the shoulder.Â
The Pandas had four shots in the opening frame, all of which from the perimeter. Glover was strong in the first, turning aside seven.Â
Alberta opened the second with momentum, firing six quick shots on Hugens in the UBC net, three of which on an early powerplay. However, they were unable to get the equalizer.Â
UBC broke the game open midway through the frame, as Kordic and McCallum scored 33 seconds apart. Kordic potted her second of the game in the final two minutes of the second, cycling the offensive zone, before beating a screened Glover from distance.Â
Down 4-0 through 40, Kieser sparked some momentary life into the Pandas, re-directing an Abby Soyko point shot on a Pandas powerplay over the shoulder of Hugens.Â
The comeback bid ended as soon as it started, however, as Elliott's wrist-shot re-directed off a stick and past Dojahn just 31 seconds later.Â