VANCOUVER - The battle of the two top teams in the Canada West lived up to its billing as the No.2-ranked UBC Thunderbirds came back to defeat the No.10-ranked Calgary Dinos 3-2 in a wild affair Saturday night at Thunderbird Park.
It was a tale of two halves as Calgary (4-3-1) dominated the first half going up 2-0 before the host T-Birds (4-0-3) stormed back with three goals of their own to preserve their undefeated start t the season.
"Our effort tonight really speaks to the resiliency of our team," said UBC head coach
Mike Mosher. "There wasn't one person on or side that didn't think we could win this game (after going down 2-0)," added Mosher.
UBC were on their heels for much of the first half before turning the tables following the break getting goals from
Kent O'Connor and defender
Paul Clerc less than three minutes apart.
Clerc's goal would stand up as the game-winner. Near perfect service from
Tyson Keam corner allowed the second-year T-Bird to get to the ball and head it past Calgary keeper Colin Hasick.
O'Connor's goal seemed to surprise his side as much as it did the Dinos. The first-year midfielder created space and made his way to the corner of the penalty area then sent a ball towards the net that found its way through the crowd, past Hasick and inside the left post.
The UBC flurry mirrored the visitor's effort from the first half when Calgary was the agressor. The Dinos pressed hard throughout the half putting the pressure on the UBC back four with balls over the top and forcing UBC into turnovers. The Dinos' persistence paid off as they counted first in the 8th minute.
Forward Izak Lawrence beat his man on the left wing then moved into the area and crossed for Jeremy Jenkyns who tucked the ball inside the near post.
The visitors continued to press and were once again rewarded. Lawrence was taken down inside the edge of the box and was awarded penalty. The veteran striker made no mistake stepping to the spot and sending the ball left t make it 2-0.
The T-Birds were given a life line in the 33rd when a long ball in from
Navid Mashinchi was mishandled by Pattison. Striker Sean Daley pounced on the loose ball and fired into the open Calgary goal from 15 yards to cue the UBC comeback.
The win puts the T-Birds alone atop the Canada West table with 15 points, one clear of rival Trinity Western Spartans who sit second on 14 points.
UBC's next match will again test their mettle as they host those same Spartans next Friday Oct. 7th with kickoff set for 7:15 p.m. Calgary will look to regain their winning form when they host provincial rival Alberta after earning just a single point on their B.C. road swing.
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