VANCOUVER – The No. 9-ranked UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team (2-1-0) will return home this weekend, as they prepare to face the Alberta Pandas (1-0-1) on Friday, September 18, 2015 and the UNBC Timberwolves (0-1-1) on Saturday, September 19, 2015. Both matches will be held at Thunderbird Stadium, and are set to kick off at 7 p.m. (PT) on their respective days.
 
Coming off a split of last weekend's games, the T-Birds will be looking to get back in the win column, as their last result was a 2-1 setback last Saturday at the hands of the No. 7 Fraser Valley Cascades.
 
However, prior to that result, UBC flashed some high-end potential, topping the then-No. 2-ranked Trinity Western Spartans 2-0 on the preceding Friday. In that contest, a clutch two-goal performance from forward Amrit Berar (Richmond, B.C.) assured the result for the T-Birds. Berar opened the scoring six minutes in, pouncing on a turnover deep in the Spartans' end and drilling home a low blast to the left corner. Berar sealed the win in the 56th minute, taking a beautiful cross from Taylor Shannik (Delta, B.C.) and deftly volleying it to the back of the Trinity Western goal. For her efforts, Berar was named Canada West's second star of the week.
 
Alberta will come into Thunderbird Stadium, the site of the 2015 CIS women's soccer championship tournament, with the goal of protecting their undefeated record. After a season-opening 2-2 draw with the Thompson Rivers WolfPack, the Pandas got their first win of the campaign in a close 2-1 decision over the UBC Okanagan Heat. For the season, fifth-year senior forward Julie Ignacio, who has notched a goal and two assists in her two appearances, is pacing Alberta offensively.
 
UNBC, on the other hand, has gotten off to a slow start. The Timberwolves are still looking for their first win of 2015 after earning a 1-1 result against UBCO to open their Canada West campaign, but following it up with a 3-0 loss at the hands of Thompson Rivers.
 
UNBC will have a chance to get their first 'W' before stepping on the pitch with UBC on Saturday, as they're set to face the Victoria Vikes on the road on Friday evening.