VANCOUVER- The UBC Thunderbirds (4-0-1) returned home to Thunderbird Stadium and continued their unbeaten run with a dominant performance that resulted in a well-deserved 1-0 victory over the Calgary Dinos (2-3-0) on Friday night.
The Thunderbirds controlled the game, but were unfortunate not to score more than just their one goal. The deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute when
Jora Saran fed the ball to
Victory Shumbusho who used his blazing speed to slice through the Dinos' defence, before cutting back and neatly placing the ball into the top right corner of the net.
"I thought we were pretty good on the whole it would have been nice to finish off some of the chances we had in the second half and give ourselves a bit more breathing room," said UBC head coach
Mike Mosher. "Decent performance, it's coming along. "
The first half saw both teams battling back and forth trying to land a blow. It was the Thunderbirds who were getting the better of the chances, outshooting the Dinos 7-1.
Goalie Jake Ruschkowski kept the Dinos in the game by recording 8 saves. As the Thunderbirds continued to attack, Ruschkowski parried, smothered, and cleared shot after shot, keeping his team from conceding more than just the one goal.
Zach Verhoven had the best chance in the first half to put the Thunderbirds ahead. His shot beat Dinos keeper Ruschkowski, but went right across the mouth of goal past the far post. His second chance came again in the 45th minute when he was able to hit a nice volley that ended up in Ruschkowski's hands.
In the second half the T-Birds continued to pile on the pressure with players like Verhoven, Shumbusho, and
Mackenzie Cole all registering shots on goal.
Finally Shumbusho was able to knock in the game winner ending the frustration of so many chances created with nothing to show.
In the dying minutes of the game the Dinos attempted to push forward, but were held at bay by the Thunderbirds defence. UBC 'keeper
Chad Bush was only forced to make one save in his fourth clean sheet of the season.
Mosher feels the team will continue to grow with each win.
"The goal was to build and get better with each game and every weekend and I think we're getting there. Like I said we're not the finished product in August or September, but we want to be there come October. So far so good."
The Thunderbirds will battle the MacEwan Griffins at Ken Woods Field on Saturday night at 7:30 pm.
