.EDMONTON – The University of Alberta Pandas soccer team handed the UBC Thunderbirds their first loss of the season when Alberta captain Fallon Dickie scored the game winning goal in the 74th minute, giving the hosts a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Foote Field.
  
UBC, the defending Canada West and national champions, fall to 2-1-4 on the season, and into fifth place in the Pacific division standings.
 
With the win Alberta remains undefeated on the season, improving their record to 4-0-2. They also remain in second place in the Pacific division standings in Canada West, trailing Trinity Western (5-0-2) and tied with the 4-1-2 UFV Cascades.
 

It is Game Day Foote Field 11am vs @PandasSoccer #StayTuned pic.twitter.com/b4BLxfRoUq

— UBC Women's Soccer (@ubcwsoc) September 25, 2016

 
"This will motivate us more than ever as we are a program that does not lose often," said UBC Head Coach Jesse Symons. "We were not at our best today on both sides of the ball and will look forward into next week."
 
Striker Karissa McNutt opened the scoring in the 16th minute when she headed Sydney Daines' cross down and into the Thunderbirds goal, past the dive of UBC 'keeper Marlee Maracle.
 
The Pandas doubled their advantage nine minutes later. Panda striker Brenna Matiello took a cross at the top corner of the 18-yard box. When Parth spun to shoot she slipped on the grass and inadvertently sliced the ball inside the left post before Maracle could dive across to stop it.
 
Two minutes later, UBC closed the gap to one goal when Jasmin Dhanda shook off her defender and buried a low hard shot into the Alberta goal.


 
Dhanda equalized in the 52nd minute by taking a feed from Amelia Crawford inside the Alberta 18-yard box and chipping Bazzarelli. The Alberta 'keeper was caught completely off-guard as the ball sailed over her for the 2-2 goal. It was Dhanda's fourth goal and eighth point of the season, both tops in Canada West.
 
With UBC applying heavy pressure, the Pandas found the game winner 20 minutes later. Madison Szafranski fed a through ball for Dickie who buried the breakaway goal inside the bottom right post for the 3-2 win.
 
"It was an unfortunate time to get scored on again," added Symons. "The game was turning after we had come back from two down."
 
UBC returns to Vancouver for a pair of home games next weekend. The 'Birds will host the UBCO Heat on Friday at 5 PM at Ken Woods Field then on Saturday they will battle the TRU Wolfpack at 5 PM inside Thunderbird Stadium.

- with files from Matt Gutsch (University of Alberta Communications)