"We set goals to come first in our division; to be the top scoring team in our division; and to be the team with the fewest goals against…mission accomplished on all three."
Mike Mosher – head coach UBC Men's Thunderbird Soccer

VANCOUVER – This time last year, the UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer team looked poised to take yet another run at the prestigious Sam Davidson Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the top CIS team in the country.  It is one that the T-Birds have lifted into the air 13 times, but one that eluded the powerhouse squad last season.  Squaring off against the Alberta Golden Bears, the 'Birds suffered a 2-0 loss in the Canada West Final to their hopes of a national title.

"There were certainly some learnings from last year," said UBC head coach Mike Mosher.  "Whenever you have a good team and things don't go as you would have hoped - you need to look at what you might have done differently.  We've been focused over the past few weeks to not take anything for granted and look to finish the last few games strong so that we continue into playoffs with positive momentum.

Fast forward one year, and the T-Birds have yet again been dominant throughout the regular season,  finishing with a 10-0-2 record. The Blue and Gold not only finished atop Canada West, by also tied with the UQAM Citadin as the top-ranked team in CIS.

UBC's men's soccer program has crafted a winning history that is matched by few other varsity squads in CIS, having claimed 13 national titles. The 'Birds have dominated in recent years, as they've competed for five national titles in the past decade, winning four of them. 

While the results speak for themselves, Mosher reflected on the process that has seen his program sustain such a high level of success over the years.

"The bar is set very high for this program.  It's not easy to win Canada West and get to a national final every year, but that is where expectations start," said Mosher, when asked about what it takes to maintain his winning culture.   "To play for this team is to understand what it means to be part of something that is bigger than any one individual.  When a group of guys commit to a goal, and put the collective groups' achievement above their own, you have the makings of a winning culture.  One team, and everyone contributes. That's our strength."

"We've got the benefit of depth thanks to both talented up-and-comers, as well as our experienced fourth-year and fifth-year guys who've been on a national championship team, and know what it takes to win the whole thing," said Mosher, when asked about his expectations going into playoffs. 

The most vital of those veterans might be Gagan Dosanjh (Abbotsford, B.C.). A fifth-year attacking midfielder and team captain, Dosanjh was part of the UBC squad that claimed the 2012 CIS Championship team, a tournament in which he was named a CIS Championship tournament all-star selection and winner of the CIS Championship MVP award.  Dosanjh left UBC to play pro for FC Edmonton of the North American Soccer League, before suffering a severe knee injury that kept him off the field for 18 months. Now back to play out his final year of eligibility, Dosanjh wants nothing more than to bring home a second national title for the Thunderbirds.

"It means a lot to me to be back this year," said Dosanjh.  "Overcoming the obstacle of my injury has been a big win for me as it was a tough year and a half on the sidelines. I am excited to be a part of such a great group of guys and am looking to lead and guide the team through my play – as well as keeping the boys motivated the whole way through. I am definitely just soaking it all in and trying to make my last year a memorable one."

UBC will begin their quest for CIS glory in earnest this Friday, October 30. The Saskatchewan Huskies, the defending league champions, will make their way to Thunderbird Stadium, as the two sides square off in the Canada West quarterfinals. The opening kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (PT).