TORONTO (CIS) – The top-seeded UBC Thunderbirds handed the No. 3 Guelph Gryphons their first loss of the tournament with a 5-0 victory to wrap up Day 2 of the FHC - CIS women's field hockey championship on Friday at Varsity Centre
The Thunderbirds (2-0-1) move into first place after Day 2 and are in good position to defend their title. UBC wraps up round robin play versus the Western Mustangs (1-1-0) tomorrow afternoon, with a win solidifying their spot in the gold-medal game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
“Everybody played really well today,” said UBC head coach Hash Kanjee. “The defence were definitely on today. Getting those nice goals from [Katherine] Gillis was good - it gave us a little bit of cushion.”
Guelph (2-1-0) also looks to secure a berth into the national final as they end their round robin schedule versus Western tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. The Gryphons fell 1-0 in overtime to Toronto in their only other CIS final appearance in 2007 at Varsity Centre.
“Today was a tough day going out against the No. 1 and 2 teams,” said Gryphons head coach Michelle Turley. “We've got to go out and play our game tomorrow and we'll rebound for sure.”
The Thunderbirds struck first as CIS rookie of the year and West Vancouver, B.C., native
Hannah Haughn sent a beautiful pass across the circle to fellow all-Canadian Katherine Gillis (Toronto), who one-timed it to find the back of the net in the 9
th minute.
The Gryphons almost got on the board in the 27
th minute when CIS player of the year Brittany Seidler of Oliver, B.C., came running into the circle and beat the goaltender, but was denied by a great defensive effort from UBC's
Shanlee Johnston (Vancouver).
Gillis notched her second goal of the game just three minutes later on a very similar play, taking a pass from Haughn on the right side and firing it past Gryphons goalie and Mitchell, Ont., native Kaye McLagan.
UBC held a 2-0 lead at the half.
CIS all-Canadian
Natalie Sourisseau of Kelowna, B.C., notched her third goal of the tournament in the 44
th minute, and Delta, B.C., native
Sara McManus scored on a penalty stroke and penalty corner opportunity in the 51
st and 67
th minutes, respectively, to round out the scoring.
SCORING SUMMARY
UBC: 2-3: 5
GUE: 0-0: 0
First half
UBC Katherine Gillis (1), 9th
UBC Katherine Gillis (2), 30th
Second half
UBC
Natalie Sourisseau (3), 44th
UBC
Sara McManus (2), 51st
UBC
Sara McManus (3), 67th
Goaltenders
UBC:
Bea Francisco (W, 70:00, 0 GA, 2-0-1)
GUE: Kaye McLagen (L, 70:00, 5 GA, 2-1-0)
Players of the game
UBC:
Katrina Waldron (Duncan, B.C.)
GUE: Courtney Lacey (Guelph, Ont.)
STANDINGS, SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Official championship website:
http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/fh/index
Round-robin standings (after 7 of 10 games)
1. UBC (2-0-1, 7 pts.)
2. Guelph (2-1-0, 6 pts.)
3. Toronto (1-1-1, 4 pts.)
4. Western (1-1-0, 3 pts.)
5. Victoria (0-3-0, 0 pts.)
NOTE: 3 points for a win and 1 point for a tie.
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