The University of British Columbia Athletics

Vancouver, BC - The UBC men's soccer team aim to bounce back after a gut-wrenching loss against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades last Sunday, with a home and home series against the Trinity Western Spartans this weekend. Friday night's game kicks off at 7pm at David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium and then the team will travel to Langley for a repeat performance on Saturday night.
 
UBC started the season with a brilliant 4-1 win over rivals University of Victoria in the provincial capital, only to be brought back down to earth in spectacular fashion a couple of days later by conceding a late goal to the UFV Cascades. UBC all but looked to have wrapped up a hard-earned draw until Cascades forward Connor MacMillan fired home from short-range. That goal brought an end to the Thunderbirds' formidable run of 27 consecutive conference games (regular season and post-season) without a loss.
 
The Spartans suffered a mauling at the hands of UVic last weekend and it could have been worse than the 4-0 scoreline suggests without some spectacular saves from keeper Evan Lowther. They will be looking to throw themselves at UBC right from the whistle and sneak an early goal to disrupt the Thunderbirds intention of returning to their winning ways at home.
 
UBC, along with Trinity Western, UVic, and UFV all sit tied atop the Pacific Division standings with a record of 1-1-0. Despite going undefeated last season en route to a national championship title, the Thunderbirds and Spartans tied in both their meetings in 2012. The first game, a goal-less stalemate, and the second a 2-2 showpiece at home. Friday night presents the perfect opportunity for either team to go one up on the other and then further solidify that advantage as well as their conference position on Saturday.
 
Trinity's Jarvis Ambaka is one for home fans to keep an eye on. He notched eight goals and three assists last season in just 12 starts and will be looking to open up his tally for this season. UBC have their own potent goal-scorer in Milad Mehrabi, and he will be hoping new strike partner Niall Cousens can use his towering frame to hold the ball up and play him in so he can put his lethal finishing to good use.