VANCOUVER - The No.2-ranked UBC Thunderbirds used a strong first half to cruise by the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns by a score of 4-1 on Friday night at Thunderbird Park.
UBC (3-0-3) got on the board in the 24th minute when Gagandeep Dosanjh broke through and was fouled hard by Matt Meloruna. The foul earned Meloruna a caution and gave the T-Birds a free kick just outside the Lethbridge area.
Tyson Keam then stepped up and sent a high shot that rattled off the bar before falling across the line for a 1-0 UBC lead.
Lethbridge (1-6-0), who were coming off their first win of the season, had barely collected themselves before the T-Birds struck again, this time it was from a less likely source.
Navid Mashinchi hit a corner high into the 6-yard box that defender
Steve Johnson did well to head home in the 29th minute.
The strong start was just what head coach
Mike Mosher wanted from his side.
"We wanted to come out and put the pressure on them early and we were successful in accomplishing that," said Mosher.
The hungry home squad wasn't finished there as they looked to put away the Pronghorns before the break.
In the 37th minute Matthew Allard came down the right wing with speed and the fifth-year defender sent a perfect service into the box that was met with a diving header by first-year midfielder
Kent O'Connor. O'Connor's effort made the score 3-0 T-Birds and put the match all but out of reach.
Lethbridge had a glorious chance to get within two when, in the 60th minute, Meloruna worked wide then crossed in front for Morgan Brownjohn who had a wide open goal but sent his shot high over the UBC net.
The T-Birds added their fourth in the 90th minute off some more great passing. Allard was left alone near on the Lethbridge side of half and found forward Cam Davis, the speedy forward then beat his man and crossed for
Devin Gunenc who buries his first of the season from six yards out.
Meloruna then spoiled UBC goalkeeper
Luke O'Shea's bid for a clean sheet when his shot deflected off a defender and into the UBC goal in extra time. Still, the first-year keeper made three quality saves in earning his first win as a Thunderbird.
The win snapped a two-game winless slide for the 'Birds following a less than fruitful visit to the prairies last weekend.
The Pronghorns now make the trip to Langley to face Trinity Western at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday while the T-Birds host Calgary tomorrow night with kick-off scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at Thunderbird Park.
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