VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team fell 3-0 to the visiting Western Washington University Vikings (NCAA Div. I) in a non-conference game Saturday in Vancouver.
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The game at Thunderbird Stadium was the first intercollegiate match for Andrea Neil as head coach of UBC.
WSOC: UBC v. W. Wash. U. (Aug. 24, 2013) Gallery
The Vikings were effective in pressuring the ball right from the opening whistle. In the eighth minute, a Western Washington corner kick from the far sideline fell into a crowd of players surrounding the near goalpost and a UBC player knocked the ball into the net, resulting in an own goal.Â
Just three minutes later, Catherine Miles made it 2-0 for Western Washington before the Vikings rounded out the scoring in the 38th minute. Kristin Maris hit a line drive shot at UBC goalkeeper Alyssa Williamson (Langley, BC), who made a brilliant save but the rebound was knocked back out into the goalmouth. Elise Aylward was the first to get to the loose ball and she converted to give Western Washington a three-goal lead.
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There was no scoring in the second half and neither team was able to get a shot on net. Jordan Kitagawa (Delta, BC) was named the game MVP for UBC after recording the team's only shot on net during the game.
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The T-Birds had the only corner kick in the final 45 minutes of play and ended the match with three corners to two for WWU.
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The preseason continues for UBC, as the team will face Langara College of the Pacific Western Athletic Association, on Friday, Aug. 30 in another non-conference matchup.
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The first game of the Canada West regular season will take place Sept. 7 at Thunderbird Stadium against Trinity Western.
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Tickets to the game, as well as season's passes, are available at: http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/tickets
