VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds celebrated their 10th straight Canada West title on Sunday with a 6-0 win over the Victoria Vikes, capping off a perfect 8-0 regular season.
After some shaky stretches during Saturday's match, coach Hash Kanjee was looking for his side to close out the regular season with the kind of effort they are capable of, and he got exactly what he was looking for.
WFH: T-Birds v. Victoria (Oct. 21, 2012) Gallery
UBC got two goals from Canada West Rookie of the Year Hannah Haughn, two from All-Star Natalie Sourisseau, and one from Canada West Player of the Year Kate Gillis to help push them to victory. Cassie Tayler also scored for the home side.
“I thought their skills were much better today and they handled pressure better,” said Kanjee. “I think it was a mindset sort of thing. We were a little upset about how we played yesterday but we just tweaked our system a little bit and it all came together really well.”
Gillis scored twice on Saturday and added one more Sunday to finish the year with a league-leading seven goals. The third-year Boston College transfer was named the conference's Player of the Year and nominee for the national award after the match.
“The thing that she does for us is lead on and off the field,” Kanjee said of Gillis. “She's always ready to play and I think the younger players see that. And of course she has a great skill set and can really put the ball in the back of the net.”
Haughn finished with six goals in her rookie campaign, and her playmaking abilities have been just as impressive as her scoring touch for the 'Birds this year.
“She's a very talented young lady. I first saw her three years ago and she keeps getting better and better,” Kanjee said of Haughn, a Handsworth Secondary product. “She has amazing skills and vision. Her passing skills are really great and she's only first year. This kid is just going to keep getting better.”
Sourisseau's two goals put her at a total of four for the year, earning her a Canada West All-Star nod. She joins Gillis, Haughn, Poonam Sandhu and team captain Miranda Mann as UBC's 2012 All Stars.
Bea Francisco stood tall in net to earn her league-best third shutout of the season.
The T-Birds are headed back east to defend their national title this year. They have a week off to regroup before heading to the University of Toronto for the CIS tournament running November 1-4, along with Victoria, Toronto and two other OUA teams to be named.
Following is a list of 2012 Canada West women's field hockey awards & All-Stars:
Awards
Player of the Year: Kate Gillis, UBC
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Haughn, UBC
Goalkeeper of the Year: Sydney Hamm, Calgary
Gail Wilson Nominee (Outstanding Contributor): Carolina Romeo, Calgary
Coach of the Year: Jenn Swagar, Calgary
Umpire of the Year: Tyler Klenk, Victoria
All-Stars (alphabetical)
Keara Chiquen, Calgary
Courtney Duggan, Calgary
Kate Gillis, UBC
Sydney, Hamm, Calgary
Hannah Haughn, UBC
Kyla Kirby, Victoria
Carly Krestanovich, Victoria
Miranda Mann, UBC
Carolina Romeo, Calgary
Poonam Sandhu, UBC
Annie Walters-Shumka, UVic
Natalie Sourisseau, UBC
