VANCOUVER – The No. 1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer team will try to keep their undefeated run going this Thanksgiving weekend as they face the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades and Trinity Western University Spartans in a home-and-away series.
The Thunderbirds were successful in beating both UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers University at home last weekend, extending their winning streak to eight matches and outscoring their opponents 8-0 in the process. UBC (8-0) leads the Pacific Division with a perfect 24 points, five ahead of the University of Victoria.
The Thunderbirds will start the weekend by hosting UFV. The 'Birds took on the Cascades earlier this September and nabbed a 2-0 win. Both squads set a frenetic pace the last time they played, so this weekend's matchup should be an exciting game. With a 4-4 record, the fourth-place Cascades hold down the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division, but sit just two points ahead of Trinity Western. Friday's game could prove very important to UFV's playoff positioning.
On Saturday, the 'Birds are away at Trinity Western (3-4-1) in Langley. The Spartans sit one place out of the playoffs and squandered a golden opportunity to pick up points in their previous series, losing twice in Prince George to give UNBC their first-ever six-point weekend.
Defensively, the Thunderbirds have been impeccable so far this year, conceding just two goals, the best in Canada. Goalkeeper
Luke O'Shea made his season debut last Saturday after recovering from injury.
Richard Meister has not lost in four starts, earning clean sheets in three of those appearances.
On offence, T-Bird
Navid Mashinchi continues to lead the entire Canada West league with 23 points. He stands with seven goals, tied for best in the conference, and is leading the assists chart with nine. Teammate
Niall Cousens sits fourth in the points race with 15, and an impressive six-goal tally.
The Thunderbirds will try make it a perfect 10-for-10 this weekend. UBC's match with Fraser Valley on Friday will go at 7 p.m. on David Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium. Saturday's match against Trinity Western kick off at 7 p.m. on Rogers Field in Langley.
