VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds were shutout 26-0 by the Alberta Pandas in their final game of the regular season on Friday afternoon. Alberta, led by centre Julia Goss, dominated the opening half, and despite some impressive defensive form in the second stanza, the 'Birds weren't able to fight their way back into the contest.

"I thought the girls were awesome in the second half," said UBC head coach Maria Gallo. "Unfortunately, we gave up some easy run-throughs in the middle of the field early on, and it's difficult to come back when you're down by three tries."

Alberta's onslaught began just after the opening whistle. Just 1:05 into the game, a scrum deep in UBC territory provided the perfect opportunity Pandas to get on the board, and Goss took advantage. The fourth-year standout took a pitch from the scrum and darted through a couple of UBC defenders on her way to the goal area. Rebecca Fairbairn stepped up and drilled the ensuing conversion attempt, making it 7-0.

The Pandas didn't waste much time adding to their lead, and it was Goss once again doing the damage. A few quick, efficient passes off of a line out from the left boundary gave Goss with some room to work down the right flank, and she made no mistake, racing past the UBC goal line and touching down for the score. Fairbairn then nailed her second conversion of the day, bringing the Alberta lead to 14.

UBC flyhalf Paige Smith (Surrey, B.C.) had a chance to cut down the Pandas' lead just before the 30 minute mark, but her attempted penalty kick flew just inches outside the left upright.

Amanda Smith and Mandy Laibida teamed up to get Alberta on the board again near the 35 minute mark. Laibida, a third-year hooker, made a terrific run into UBC territory on the left side of the field, then delivered a quick pitch to Smith. Smith found herself in a little open space, and the scrum half finished the try off with authority. Fairbairn missed her third conversion attempt of the contest, leaving the Pandas up 19-0.

During injury time for the first half, Sarah Haring put an exclaimation mark on her squad's performance, earning another try for Alberta. Fairbairn didn't miss this time, and the score at half read 26-0 for the Pandas.

The defensive strategy and intensity of the Thunderbirds in the second stanza stood in stark contrast to their first-half performance. They tackled and clogged up the field ferociously, not allowing any of Alberta's attackers to break through.

Gallo credited a couple of key changes to her lineup for the vastly different performance in the second half.

"Mackenzie Lee came in and plugged that 12-hole really nicely, and I also shifted Annie [Arnott] from fullback and took Paige out," remarked Gallo. "That definitely made a difference, as we looked a lot more dynamic."

Unfortunately, UBC's offence couldn't muster much against a stifling Alberta defence, save for a couple of long runs by Ciara Malone (Delta, B.C.) and Annabel Arnott (Abbotsford, B.C.) halfway through the frame. 

With the loss, the T-Birds are officially eliminated from Canada West playoff contention. Though their season is over, the work isn't done for Gallo and her staff, as they've already started to focus on next year.

"I am, and we all are, disappointed at the moment," admitted Gallo. "When I sit down later, though, I'm still very proud of the girls and the hard work that they've put in. As a coaching staff, we're going to go around and find the next wave of talented girls that this province has, and we're going to do everything we can to entice them to come to UBC, so we can continue to build this program."
 
SCORING SUMMARY 
1:05 – ALB try, Julia Goss (12); conversion, Rebecca Fairbairn (10) [UBC 0, ALB 7]
8:30 – ALB try, Julia Goss (12); conversion, Rebecca Fairbairn (10) [UBC 0, ALB 14]
34:35 – ALB try, Amanda Smith (9); NO conversion, Rebecca Fairbairn (10) [UBC 0, ALB 19]
40:00+ – ALB try, Sarah Haring (4); conversion, Rebecca Fairbairn (10) [UBC 0, ALB 26]