VANCOUVER – Devin Gunenc waited until the sun had set before lighting up the new scoreboard at Thunderbird Park as his marker, late in the second half, lifted the Thunderbirds to their first win of the season in a 1-0 triumph over the Lethbridge Pronghorns.
 
A long throw into the box by first-year striker Ashley Ankiewicz caused problems for the Pronghorns defenders as a poor clear landed square on the foot of Gunenc just outside the penalty area. The second-year midfielder then wasted no time sending a strong shot through the melee in front of the goal and past the Pronghorns keeper just inside the near post.
 
The goal came after nearly 15 minutes of consecutive play in the offensive end that saw numerous T-Bird chances fail to find the back of the net.
 
"Three points is three points so we'll take the win that was the positive but philosophically we have another gear and need to be better at capitalizing on our chances," said head coach Mike Mosher.
 
The Thunderbirds were a consistent threat around the goal early in the second half. In the 57th minute second-year midfielder Tyson Keam sent a curling shot to the left side of the box that found the head of Ankiewicz which he sent high in the air passed an out-of-position keeper but a desperation header by the Jaycee Neufeld cleared the ball off the line and kept the match at 0-0.
 
Moments earlier Keam and Ankiewicz had nearly connected when Keam sent a well-placed cross into the middle of the box and found a lonely Ankiewicz who couldn't get a strong boot on the bouncing ball and sent the shot wide.
 
The outcome could have been worse for the visitors had goalkeeper Jordan Campbell not made some key saves. With the T-Birds smelling blood in the water following their goal an intelligently placed cross from second-year midfielder Sebastian Crema was nearly headed in by fourth-year striker Ryan Reynolds but was robbed by a diving Campbell.
 
The first half saw the teams trade chances early with Lethbridge creating off a missed tackle that allowed midfielder Andrew Malcolm to streak down the left side. Malcolm found Lucas Rajcic alone at the top of the box but his shot was blocked thanks to a fine effort by third-year defender Jason Gill.
 
The T-Birds best chance of the first half came when rookie defender Will Hyde sent in a brilliant ball over the Pronghorns defence to Reynolds who had a smart first touch to beat the last Lethbridge defender. Reynolds effort would go unrewarded as his strong strike found the woodwork.
 
One-hundred and fifty fans took advantage of the free admission offered by university in the inaugural game under the lights at Thunderbird Park.
 
The win moves the Thunderbirds to 1-2-0 on the season while the Pronghorns fall to 0-3-0. Lethbridge will now head to the Langley, B.C., in search of their first win against the Trinity Western Spartans while UBC will host the Calgary Dinos tomorrow night at Thunderbird Park.