VANCOUVER- In their second pre-season match the UBC Thunderbirds dropped a 3-1 decision to the Seattle University Redhawks on Sunday afternoon. The Redhawks are coming of a 2015 season that saw them advance to the 'Sweet 16' in the NCAA Division One playoffs, so they provided a stiff test for the Thunderbirds.
 
First-year UBC player Cole Mackenzie scored the lone goal for the T-Birds in 114th minute, as the teams played an extra 30 minutes of time in the non-conference exhibition game. This was the second NCAA team UBC matched up against over the weekend, after a tough 3-1 to the Oregon State Beavers on Friday.
 
"This was a good learning opportunity for a relatively new squad looking to find our identity.  Seattle presented some good challenges for the group and I hope we collectively learn from the experience and continue to make strides forwards," said UBC Head Coach Mike Mosher. "I must give credit where it's due as Seattle were good and scored a couple quality goals.  They looked like an experienced team that had gone deep in the NCAA Division 1 tournament last fall with little turnover for this year, I am sure they will do well this season."
 

Not the result we wanted against a tough @su_mso side as we fall 3-1 to the hosts in Seattle. #gobirdsgo pic.twitter.com/hjLbGoXhOs

— UBC Men's Soccer (@ubcmsoc) August 14, 2016

 
The teams added the extra thirty minutes of playing time so both sides could take a look at younger players who will battle for roster spots this season.
 
"With so many newcomers it was great for us as a staff to see them perform in a competitive environment," added Mosher.  "Mackenzie Cole had already played the whole second half and then some and then got the extra 30 minutes and scored a good goal in the process which was nice to see.  He was a definite bright light on this trip."
 
The match ended the two game US trip for the T-Bird squad, whose roster will see a serious make over from last year's CIS bronze medal winning team.


 
"This was a great opportunity to get our team away for a couple days, learn more about each other and have a good experience playing some really good teams.  I think the overall experience was invaluable and will hopefully benefit us significantly as we move forwards.  We have numerous new players to the program, more than any year in my 21 years here, but I think we have some real quality here and we will grow this group in a positive manner in the coming weeks, months and years.  The results are not what we would have hoped for, but that is why we play pre season games against quality opponents to find out more about ourselves and where we need to get better."
 
UBC's next exhibition game will be 730 PM Friday at Thunderbird Stadium versus SFU.