VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds showed exactly why they're the No. 2-ranked team in all of CIS, as they dominated from the opening whistle on Sunday afternoon, beating the UBC Okanagan Heat 6-0 on the road.
 
Gagan Dosanjh (Abbotsford, B.C.) was the catalyst for a brilliant first-half showing from UBC, as the fifth-year midfielder racked up a goal and two assists in the opening 45 minutes. Midfielder Sean Einarsson (Surrey, B.C.) continued his torrid goal-scoring pace, picking up two more markers, while Jules Chopin (Nelson, B.C.) delivered one of the highlights of the T-Birds' season with his second-half free kick tally.
 
The T-Birds dominated possession, and chances, early, Lucas Reis (Port Moody, B.C.) turned strong form that into a tangible result in the 13th minute, after Dosanjh delivered a booming free kick off the crossbar, the third-year midfielder did well to get his head on the rebound and re-direct it past UBCO goalkeeper Logan Ellis.
 
Just four minutes later, Dosanjh got on the board himself, taking a beautiful feed from fullback Chris Serban (Calgary) and making no mistake from inside the 18-yard box. The goal made it 2-0 for the visitors.
 
UBC goalkeeper Chad Bush (Ottawa) made his impact felt at the 26 minute mark, as UBCO striker Chad Kingzett found a clear path through the Thunderbirds' goal area. Kingzett labeled a low bullet to the left corner, but Bush dove out and snagged the attempt before it could cross the goal line.
 
Dosanjh showed off his playmaking abilities yet again with just six minutes left in the half, as he delivered a terrific ball to Einarsson, who had found a small pocket of space in the UBCO 18-yard box. Einarsson did well to receive the pass and turn to face Ellis in one motion, firing a quick shot over the goalkeeper's outstretched hands.
 
Einarsson didn't waste time getting his second goal of the night. In stoppage time, the midfielder made a nice run to the top of the Heat box and let loose a terrific shot that beat Ellis cleanly to put the T-Birds up 4-0 heading into the break.
 
As a side note, Einarsson's two goals move him into a tie for second in the Canada West scoring race.
 
It seemed that the Heat settled down at the intermission, as their defensive structure prevented any glaring opportunities for UBC early on in the second frame.
 
Then, that all changed in the 67th minute when Chopin stepped up to take a free kick from just outside the UBCO goal area. Taken from the left side of the box, the right-footed Chopin struck the ball brilliantly, as it curled over the wall and into the top, left-hand side of the goal, just past a diving Ellis.
 
First-year UBC attacker Luke Griffin (Coquitlam, B.C.) notched his second goal of the season just a minute later, capitalizing on some defensive miscommunication on the UBCO side and making the score 6-0 for the Blue and Gold.
 
The goal capped off the scoring in an explosive performance from the Thunderbirds, and they cruised the rest of the way, extending their unbeaten streak to 10 games and counting.
 
The 'Birds will look to extend that streak yet again next weekend, as they host the Trinity Western Spartans and Fraser Valley Cascades in their final two games of the Canada West regular season. UBC will take on the Spartans on Friday, October 23, before facing the Cascades on Saturday, October 24. Both games are set for 7 p.m. (PT) kickoffs at Thunderbird Stadium.