EDMONTON - After scoring the first two goals of Saturday's contest, the Golden Bears give up five unanswered goals to UBC, including four-straight in the third period in a 5-2 loss. 

The loss drops the Bears to 10-12-5, and three points behind MacEwan for second in the West Division of Canada West. The Bears and MacEwan will clash next weekend to end the regular season, with the Bears needing earn two regulation wins over the Griffins to move into second, and host a quarter-final series at Clare Drake Arena. 

The win for UBC pushes their record to a program-best 23-2-3, as they head into back-to-back off weeks before hosting a semifinal series in Vancouver. 

Rookie Owen Pederson drove Alberta's offence with two first-period goals, accounting for both Golden Bears tallies on Saturday. Alex Thacker recorded two assists, factoring in both Alberta goals, while Vincent Lamanna added a helper on the opening marker.

For UBC, Sasha Mutala finished with a goal and an assist, contributing to the Thunderbirds late push, while Ben Kotylak was influential with two assists, including setups on the tying and go-ahead goals. Josh Williams, Scott Atkinson, and Nathan Sullivan also scored, and goaltender Cole Schwebius earned the win with 22 saves.

Alberta controlled the early stages and was rewarded midway through the opening frame. At 9:02, Pederson potted his fifth of the season, finishing a setup from Thacker and Lamanna.

Pederson struck again just over two minutes later, snapping home his second of the night off another feed from Thacker to extend the lead to 2-0. UBC responded quickly, cutting the lead in half less than two minutes later. Reilley Kotai converted an even-strength chance, cutting the deficit to 2-1 before the period ended.

After a scoreless second, UBC flipped the game early in the final frame. Just three minutes in, Sullivan tied the contest, finishing a pass from Kotylak to make it 2-2. Just 38 seconds later, the Thunderbirds took their first lead when Atkinson scored off a setup from Chris Douglas and Mutala, putting UBC ahead 3–2.

Alberta pressed for the equalizer and earned consecutive power plays midway through the period, but Schwebius and the UBC penalty kill held firm. With Alberta pushing late, UBC sealed the outcome with two empty-net goals.