VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's field hockey team will take to the field this weekend in Canada West action against the University of Victoria Vikes in two back-to-back contests on Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11. Both games, which will be played at Wright Field, are set to start at 11 a.m. (PT).
 
UBC will be looking for a little redemption in the contest, as they opened their 2015-16 campaign with a pair of losses to the Vikes on the road back in September. The T-Birds fell 2-0 and 3-0 to the reigning CIS bronze medalist Vikes. However, head coach Robin D'Abreo is convinced that the system they've put in place can be effective against Victoria, provided that it's used to its potential.
 
"Our game plan doesn't undergo major shifts from week to week, other than minor tactical adjustments," said D'Abreo. "What we need to work on is the execution of that game plan to our standards.  I think they put us under pressure quite a bit the last time we faced them, and we'll look to deal more effectively with that in particular."
 
That game plan worked well last weekend against the Calgary Dinos, as the T-Birds took both games against their Albertan rivals by scores of 2-1 and 2-0.  In the weekend's first game, a pair of late goals from midfielder Sarah Keglowitsch (Shawnigan Lake, B.C.) were enough to escape an early 1-0 deficit and steal the three points. In the 2-0 win over the Dinos, two fourth years led the way.  Gabby Jayme (Richmond, B.C.) and Hannah Haughn (West Vancouver) bagged a goal apiece in the first and second halves, respectively, and the T-Birds stifling defence prevented Calgary from getting back in the game.
 
D'Abreo will be looking for more of that effort from his returning players as they take on Victoria, who have started this season with a perfect 4-0-0 record, not allowing a single goal all season.
 
"We were able to generate some quality opportunities when we faced Calgary, and we're going to look to our veterans, Hannah [Haughn] and Sarah [Keglowitsch] in the midfield, to get the job done again. Gabby Jayme provides a lot of stability in the midfield, and Meghan Hayden is one of our most experienced forwards. We're going to need them for the upcoming series."
 
Haughn could very well be the biggest x-factor in this weekend's series, as the former CIS Rookie of the Year and three-time CIS All-Canadian missed UBC's first two games against Victoria.
 
Following the two games against the Vikes, the T-Birds will prepare to close out their regular season with two final games against Calgary on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18 at Wright Field.