VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (9-2-0) wrapped up their seventh consecutive Canada West title on Saturday with a 4-2 win over the Victoria Vikes (5-3-3) on the road in the provincial capital.
Coming into the weekend, the T-Birds needed just a single point over their final two games of the season to clinch the CW crown. The visitors got that necessary point, and more, in convincing fashion with four goals in 25 minutes after falling behind 1-0.
"We actually missed getting a goal right at the beginning and then a bad turnover gave them their first goal in the fourth minute," said UBC head coach Hash Kanjee. "Overall our play was good once we got the jitters out and equalized. From then on it pretty much went all our way. Most of their chances came off mistakes by us and that is something we need to fix for tomorrow."
Natalie Wise had a pair of goals for the Vikes including a marker in the fourth minute that put the home side up 1-0.
After
Elise Milosevich just missed giving UBC the lead in the second minute, Wise capitalized after a T-Birds turnover at the top of their own area.
The Vikes lead was short lived, however, as
Kristyn Harrington scored in the 12th minute to equalize off a penalty corner before
Robyn Pendleton put UBC up for good in the 26th minute.
"Robyn played one of the best games I have seen out of her in a long time," noted Kanjee about his star midfielder. "She has definitely been one of our top players this season, however, today there was just something a bit more. A real cracker of a game."
Whitney Kroll padded the T-Birds lead before the half (29th minute) and Milosevich made good on her missed opportunity from early on with a goal two minutes into the second half.
Wise added her second in the 53rd minute but it was all over by then.
"We have really been playing well over the last few weeks and we need to keep up this momentum as we prepare for the CIS Championship," said Kanjee. "I thought Kristen Bertsch has been a real offensive and defensive standout in the midfield. She has made us much more solid going both ways and has grown into that position in the middle."
The two rivals meet again tomorrow in the regular season finale. Game time is 12 noon.
