VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team dominated in their first matchup of the weekend, defeating the UBC Okanagan Heat 2-1. UBC is now 7-1-1 overall and 5-1-0 in conference. UBCO is 1-3-3.
 
The mid-afternoon competition saw the Thunderbirds come out firing. UBC outshot the Heat 13-4 and denied them their first home win of the season.
 
"We played well today and generated some great chances for ourselves," said UBC head coach Marisa Kovacs. "We found the back of the net twice off the run of play and if we continue to work hard and execute we will get results. UBCO is a well-coached and hard-working team and I am proud of the way my team stepped up to the challenge. We now look to TRU and we know it will be another 90-minute battle.

UBC goalkeeper Olivia de Goede (Victoria, B.C.) was put to the test early on in the match, but was able to shut down scoring chances from Heat forwards Michelle Smith and Ally Ferronato. Early pressure from the Heat was short lived as UBC cranked up their offence, starting in the 12th minute.
 
The Thunderbirds were able to maintain control of the ball in the Heat's zone long enough for fourth-year midfielder Kym van Duynhoven (Burnaby, B.C.) to poke the ball into the bottom corner following a nice cross from Shayla Chorney (Vancouver) in the 20th minute. van Duynhoven's efforts resulted in her first goal of the regular season and game MVP honours.
 
A mad scramble for a rebound following a shot by Amrit Berar (Richmond, B.C.) in the 31st nearly crept through, but the loose ball was quickly smothered by UBCO goalkeeper Joella Koblischke, who kept the scoreline at just 1-0 heading into halftime.
 
UBCO's hopes of tying things up early in the second half were shattered when a brilliant feed from Berar from the far left corner found fifth-year veteran Taylor Shannik (Delta, B.C.) out front, who buried her first goal of the season into the top right corner.
 
Repeating the post-goal momentum of the first half, UBC embarked on another stretch of solid offensive pressure. In all alone following a long lob pass from the UBC zone, Shannik, looking to net her second goal of the match, shot just wide.
 
Koblischke's solid goalkeeping, including a huge diving save following a bullet from Berar in the 62nd minute, kept her team alive long enough to see a quick turnaround in the 71st minute result in UBCO's first goal. The Heat's Smith found the top right corner of the net following a flick on net from Courtney Hemmerling.
 
The goal provided UBCO with a much-needed boost, but they were unable to get on the board for a second time. The defences for both team stepped up for the final 12 minutes of play as neither team was able to record a shot on goal.
 
The victory helped the Thunderbirds climb to the top of the Pacific Division of the Canada West league, while the Heat fell to sixth place.
 
UBC will look to continue its win streak when they face the Thompson Rivers WolfPack Sunday afternoon in Kamloops, B.C. The Heat will try and avoid back-to-back home losses as they welcome the red hot Victoria Vikes. Victoria has netted 12 goals in their last three matches, including a 3-0 shutout against TRU on Saturday afternoon. Both games commence Sunday, September 27 at 2 p.m. (PT).