EDMONTON - The no. 10 ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds women's soccer team booked their ticket to the Canada West Final Four thanks to a 2-0 win over the no. 1 ranked University of Alberta Pandas, Sunday afternoon at Foote Field in Edmonton.
UBC got goals from
Alisha Penev and
Lisa Furutani, while goalkeeper
Meghan Best made a handful of stops to record the win and the shutout.
The win gives the Thunderbirds an 8-5-1 record for 25 points and puts them tied for third in the conference standings with UFV. Fraser Valley, however, will earn the no. 3 seed at next weekend's CW Final Four in Edmonton since they hold the season series tie-break over UBC. The T-Birds meet the host Pandas in one semi-final while UFV and Trinity Western are set to contest the other.
Although the Pandas had locked up a playoff position weeks ago, as well as first place and hosting duties last weekend, they will be entering the post-season on a two game losing streak as they lost 2-1 to TWU on Saturday.
The Pandas certainly had chances against the Thunderbirds on Sunday, but couldn't convert. Third-year forward Amanda Black rang a hard shot off post in 29th minute as the home side pressed for the win hard in the first half.
UBC who earned the lead at half-time, however, when fourth-year midfielder
Lisa Furutani collected a loose ball in the Alberta 18-yard box and slammed it into the top corner.
In the 52nd minute the T-Birds doubled their lead when Penev chipped a free-kick into the Alberta box that bounced over Pandas' keeper Kelti Biggs and into the goal.
Veteran midfielder Christina Le had another good chance for the Pandas, but smacked her shot against the UBC goal post in the 69th minute.
The T-Bird defence stood tall from then on, preventing the Pandas from getting a clean shot on goal.
Next weekend's Final Four is scheduled for November 6 and 7 at Foote Field. Both Canada West finalists advance to the CIS national championship, November 11-14 at the University of Prince Edward Island.
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