The University of British Columbia Athletics

 
Reynold Stewart and Navid Mashinchi notched goals for the Thunderbirds after a Mount Royal own goal opened the scoring. UBC goalkeeper Richard Meister collected the team's third shutout in as many games.
 
With the win the Thunderbirds improve to 11-1-0 and currently sit atop the Pacific Division with 33 points. The No. 1-ranked Thunderbirds are on an absolute tear as the team is riding a 10-game winning streak, outscoring its opponents 35-6 in that time span.
                                                                                                                                 
The Thunderbirds were able to get on the board almost immediately as an own-goal by the Cougars broke the deadlock. The first minute goal was set up by UBC's Harry Lakhan who delivered a cross into the box resulting in a deflection off a Cougars player giving the Thunderbirds the early momentum.
 
The Cougars best chance came in the 56th minute when midfielder Brad Crewe nearly found the far corner off a cross but the attempt trickled just wide to keep the Thunderbirds up by one.
 
Midfielder Stewart, who came into the game at halftime, added the insurance marker in the 77th minute thanks to a beautiful passing play set up by Harry Lakhan. Stewart was able to sneak one past Cougar goalkeeper Kamil Zielinsky on a low strike for his seventh of the season.
 
Mashinchi added a late goal in the 87th minute putting the game out of reach, tapping in a feed from Niall Cousens to make the game 3-0. The tally was Mashinchi's sixth goal of the regular-season putting him three back of league-leader Milad Mehrabi.
 
Mount Royal falls to 3-7-1 with the loss and is in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The Cougars were able to keep the match close for the majority of the game but were unable to solve the Thunderbirds defence and were shutout for the third consecutive game.
 
With Saturday marking the Thunderbirds regular season home finale, the team finishes with a home record of 7-1-0 and is currently undefeated on the road, with two away games remaining.
 
The Thunderbirds embark on their final road trip of the season in two weeks' following a bye week when the team travels to Alberta to face off against the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday, Oct. 26 and the Calgary Dinos on Sunday Oct. 27. Both games are set to kickoff at 1:15 p.m. (Pacific).
 
Coach Mike Mosher emphasizes the importance of staying healthy but keeping the standard of play high during the remaining games.
 
"First and foremost we want to make sure we're healthy and got all our pieces available but at the same time don't want our standard to drop in terms of our play," said Mosher.
 
The Thunderbirds will welcome the upcoming bye week in lieu of the approaching playoff season.
 
"We've had 12 games over the last 6 weeks and it takes its toll so we're thrilled to be where we're at and now we have a bye-week in front of us," added Mosher.
 
The Thunderbirds inch closer to clinching first place in the Pacific Division and can do so by gaining a point in either of the teams final two games or with a Victoria Vikes loss. If the 'Birds are able to clinch the Pacific Division title, UBC would play host to the six-team Canada West Championship tournament beginning October 31.
 
The Mount Royal Cougars return home to Calgary and host a home-series against the No. 8-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies next Saturday and Sunday.
 
Prior to the game, three UBC seniors, Stewart, Will Hyde and Greg Smith, were honoured for their contributions to the men's soccer program in the players' final regular season appearance at Thunderbird Stadium.