Parhar scores SO winner, UBC advances to CIS women’s hockey final vs. Montreal

CALGARY – Haneet Parhar scored the winner in the eighth round of the shootout as the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds edged the Guelph Gryphons 2-1 in the semifinals of the CIS women’s hockey championship on Saturday.

The Thunderbirds will get a chance at their first national title on Sunday when they face the Montreal Carabins in the championship game. Montreal edged the Saint Mary’s Huskies 3-2 in the other semi.

“I didn’t even have my stick on the bench, my coach leaned over and said we had worked on this in practice, you’re shooting, you know what to do,” Parhar said. “We don’t stop, no matter what happens to us, we’re still going and we don’t lose faith in each other. We all believed we could do this and win.”

Kelly Murray tied the game at 1-1 with a power-play goal in the third for UBC. The Thunderbirds appeared to win the game with just under two minutes remaining in overtime, only to have the goal called off for goalie interference.

Kaitlin Lowy scored a power-play goal in the first period for the Gryphons.

Danielle Dube made 36 saves through regulation and overtime for the win in net. Valerie Lamenta kicked out 31-of-32 shots for Guelph.

In the other semi, Alexandra Labelle struck twice as the Carabins held off Saint Mary’s.

Ariane Barker also scored for Montreal, which last won the tournament in 2013.

Carly Gray got the Huskies on the board early in the second before Lara Polad added another in the third.

“When they scored their first goal, the momentum completely shifted,” said Carabins coach Isabelle Leclaire. “But we knew we had faced so many different situations throughout the season and we believed we could fight to the end and that’s what we did today.”

Marie-Pier Chabot made 27 saves for the win in net as Rebecca Clark turned away 10-of-13 shots in defeat.