VANCOUVER – No. 10-ranked UBC shutout Victoria 2-0 on a drizzly Saturday evening at Thunderbird Stadium to leapfrog the Vikes for third in the Canada West women's soccer Pacific Division standings.
The Thunderbirds took it to Victoria right from the opening kickoff – outshooting the Vikes 12-3 in the opening half and finishing the night with 13 shots on target. It was the team's third straight shutout. The Vikes had five of their nine shots hit the net, and had the advantage in corner kicks 6-4.
Aman Shergill got the 'Birds on the board in the 18th minute, charging in and firing a rocket past UVic goalkeeper Meaghan Storie.
"The ball came in from the back and right to my feet and I saw open space. [Jasmin] Dhanda pulled out a few players and then I just went for it…took a few touches and had a hit."
The fourth-year defender felt like her team got in a groove early.
"We finally got our touches and our patterns going. It was great that we finally got flow and now we feel like we're rolling."
In the 30th minute,
Jasmin Dhanda doubled the lead – netting her ninth goal of the season after Storie charged out of her net to challenge UBC's leading scorer.
For the Vikes, Rachel Baird had a shot at goal inside the penalty area in the 64th minute but hit her attempt high over the net. She had another chance from a similar spot on the right side of the area in the 82nd, but Maracle rushed from her net to block the shot out of play.
A day after welcoming a new baby girl into his family, three-time papa and UBC head coach
Jesse Symons was impressed with his team's performance.
"UVic's a good team. They came at us at times and fortunately we bent but didn't break. I think the big thing today was our front and our attacking mindset. We created a lot of chances and scored a couple great goals in the first half. We're really starting to create our DNA through this month."
With playoffs on the horizon, the top teams in the Canada West will be jockeying for position over the next few weeks. Symons knows his team will be ready for a tough two-game set at home next weekend.
"We're excited to settle down for a couple days for Thanksgiving and then next week facing UFV and Trinity. We tied them both times away, but we've grown a lot since then and learned a lot about the league. The players have learned what we're looking for as a team."
Both the 'Birds and the Vikes will host the first- and second-place teams in their division next weekend, with Trinity Western and Fraser Valley making the trip west.
