2009 Regular Season: 2-2, 3rd
2009 CW Championships: 1-1, 3rd
2009 CIS Championships: 1-2, 5th
Key Returnees: Radha Jain,
Darcy Patterson,
Danielle Willhoeft
Key Additions: Tanya Bennet,
Megan Hamm
Key Losses: Caitlin Ebbehoj,
Michele Helmeczi
VANCOUVER - A fifth place finish at the 2009 CIS Championships was a solid result for the UBC Thunderbirds and head coach Lesley McKenzie but if anything it was just a first step for a program on the rise.
After an 18-0 loss to no. 2 ranked St. FX in their 2009 CIS tournament opener, UBC more than held their own against no. 3 Guelph before a late try gave the Gryphons a 5-0 win and a spot in the national semi-finals. The T-Birds cemented their strong showing at nationals by shutting out Western 27-0 in the consolation game.
"We had two good games against the number two and three seeds in Canada and to miss out on advancing to the medal round that weekend by a five point try was obviously disappointing," said McKenzie.
Disappointment aside, McKenzie knows the 2009 squad set the bar for expectations heading into this season.
"We set the marker down for what we can accomplish as a program. This year we lost a number of starters but we have enough good young talent back and enough solid newcomers that we will be looking to carry on that level of play."
Returning to lead the 2010 T-Birds are two-time All-Canadian
Radha Jain, one of the most explosive backfield players in the nation who tallied nine tries last season, scrumhalf
Darcy Patterson, one of the last cuts from the women's World Cup squad this summer, and lock
Danielle Willhoeft, who was a Canada West and CIS tournament all-star.
That trio, in addition to highly touted newcomers
Tanya Bennet and
Megan Hamm, are just some of the players expected to carry over the squad's strong play from 2009.
"Last year we were able to establish the level we knew we should be playing at and draw on the confidence that is created by that," added McKenzie.
Notable names missing from the roster are a quartet of long-serving T-Birds in 2009 captain Michelle Helmeczi, fullback
Maggie Ritchie, flanker
Caitlin Harris, and no. 8
Caitlin Ebbehoj.
UBC's 2010 schedule, which comprises four home games over the next month before the Canada West Championships in Lethbridge, is one advantage that McKenzie believes will help her squad deal with the loss of some key veterans.
"Having four home games allows us to begin tweaking things from week to week and hopefully we end up with the strongest product at Canada West."
The T-Birds get a stiff test in week one as they host the no. 1 ranked and defending CIS champion Lethbridge Pronghorns Sunday, September 26. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
"Being able to put down a strong performance against Lethbridge in terms of ball retention, forward movement and contact dominance will be key for us," said McKenzie. "If we can achieve that then that will be what I look to build on for the rest of the season."
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