VANCOUVER - The no. 5 ranked UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team is looking to maintain its perfect start to 2011 as it heads out to the road for tough matchups at Saskatchewan and no. 3 Alberta this weekend.
Saturday, September 24 – no. 5 UBC at Saskatchewan (11:00 a.m. at PotashCorp Park, Saskatoon)
Sunday, September 25 –no. 5 UBC at no. 3 Alberta (11:00 a.m. at Foote Field, Edmonton)
No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds
2011 conference record: 3-0 (1st)
2011 CIS ranking: #2
Last week: beat Regina 1-0, beat Manitoba 4-0
Streak: 4 wins (including the last regular season game of 2010)
The no. 5 UBC Thunderbirds have not conceded a goal in its three games to start 2011.
Last weekend, UBC beat Regina 1-0 and crushed Manitoba 4-0 in weekend games at Thunderbird Park.
Reigning Canada West Most Valuable Player
Janine Frazao (Port Moody, BC) was the star offensively, recording three goals – vaulting her to second place in the Canada West goal-scoring race alongside teammate
Rachael Sawer (North Vancouver, BC).
But the team also suffered a costly injury.
Captain and defender
Kelly Cook (Maple Ridge, BC) will not make the trip east with the team after getting hurt on a heavy tackle against Regina. She is expected to be back in action by the end of the month.
“Saskatchewan and Alberta are very good attacking teams,” said UBC head coach Mark Rogers of this week's opponents. Saskatchewan and Alberta have a combined record of 7-1 in 2011 – and feature some of the top goal scorers in the conference.
“With
Kelly Cook being injured, it does leave a bit of a gap in our back four but we do have some very talented, young players that will get an opportunity because of it and every time they've been asked to perform, they've done so.”
Saskatchewan Huskies
2011 conference record: 3-1 (tied 3rd)
2011 CIS ranking: -
Last week: beat Fraser Valley 2-1, beat Victoria 2-1
Streak: 3 wins
Saskatoon – The Saskatchewan Huskies sit tied for second place in the conference, after winning their last two matches on a west coast road trip, beating both the University of Fraser Valley Cascades and University of Victoria Vikes 2-1.
Veteran fifth-year striker Elizabeth Hudon came away with two goals on the weekend. The goals tie Hudon for second in scoring in the Canada West in 2011 and moving her into the all-time leader in career conference goals.
Third-year keeper Marissa Wilford had a combined 19 saves this past weekend and leads the conference in saves. Two wins this weekend would help give the Huskies some separation in the standings.
But since 1986, Saskatchewan has beaten UBC just four times.
One of those times was last year on October 30, when Saskatchewan recorded a 1-0 shutout in Regina. That result came after UBC defeated the Huskies 3-1 in Vancouver earlier in the season.
No. 3 Alberta Golden Bears
2011 conference record: 4-0 (1st)
2011 CIS ranking: -
Last week: beat Victoria 1-0, beat Fraser Valley 3-1
Streak: 4 wins
Edmonton – The Alberta Pandas, like UBC, have been perfect so far this season. They won road games at Victoria and defending conference champions, Fraser Valley, last weekend.
Heather Lund is the conference's top goal-scorer, with five in four games. She knocked home the winner just before halftime against Victoria.
Then against Fraser Valley, Amanda Black scored twice and Elise Emmott added a goal to give the Pandas a strong 3-1 win in Abbotsford's Bateman Park.
Last year, UBC and Alberta split their two regular season meetings with each team winning 2-0 on the others' home turf.
Then the Thunderbirds beat the Pandas in Edmonton again during the Canada West Final Four by a score of 2-1 in overtime.
- with files from Saskatchewan and Alberta Sports Information
