CALGARY - The No. 5 ranked UBC Thunderbirds began the final weekend of the regular season with a 4-0 win over the Calgary Dinos on Saturday afternoon and with a bit of help from the Lethbridge Pronghorns, they now control the Canada West playoff race.
Tyson Keam scored two early goals, one off a free kick and one from the penalty spot. Keam was easily the most effective player on the pitch, creating countless other solid opportunities for the T-Birds.
UBC came into the weekend tied with Trinity Western for top spot in the Canada West. With the victory, the T-Birds move to 10-3-0 on the year and take sole possession of first place after Trinity Western dropped a shocking 2-1 decision at the hands of the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
"It was a great result and good performance by the guys," said UBC head coach
Mike Mosher. "It's nice to be rewarded with a few goals and give ourselves some breathing room in the game. We are peaking at the right time which is a positive sign and we got a little bit of help today from Lethbridge in the standings."
Last weekend's battle with the elements seemed to help the 'Birds more so than their hosts. The visitors made some deft adjustments while the 40 km/h winds that blew over the West Varsity Pitch forced the Dinos into some uncharacteristic lapses of judgment.
In a span of three minutes early in the first half, the Dinos took two yellow cards for unsportsmanlike behaviour before fouling
Tyson Keam on the right side of their own net. Setting up his free kick in front of a Dinos wall, Keam decided to strike on goal. His seemingly harmless, bouncing shot got dodged the goal mouth traffic and fooled Calgary goaltender J.P. Crescenzi landing inside the left post.
Shortly thereafter, Keam struck yet again, but this time on the penalty shot after being fouled by Crescenzi in the box. Keam made no mistake striking left while Cresenzi dove right giving him two on the day and four on the season.
UBC got markers from
Devin Gunenc and Jorge Angel Mira, each burying shots following scrambles in front of Calgary substitute keeper Michael Arnieri. Gunenc's goal was his fourth of the season tying him with Keam for the team lead.
T-Birds goaltender
Nikolai Matni made five saves on the afternoon en route to his fifth clean sheet of the season.
Matni and UBC will head to Lethbridge on Sunday to face the Pronghorns, where a tie or a victory seals home field advantage for the Canada West final four. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
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