Following a successful start to the 2018 Canada West season, the No. 6 UBC Thunderbirds (1-0) hit the road once again this weekend for a pair of contests against solid competition.
The 'Birds head to Abbotsford Friday, September 7 for their first meeting of the season against the Fraser Valley Cascades before traveling to Langley on Saturday, September 8 to meet the No. 4 Trinity Western Spartans.
Both the Cascades and Spartans open their regular season schedule Friday night (Victoria visits TWU) while UBC is fresh off a 1-0 road win over the Vikes last Saturday.
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The T-Birds enter the weekend without having allowed a goal against in 281 minutes dating back to a preseason match against Western Washington University.
It may just be the second week of the season but the 'Birds know the points up for grabs could be huge down the road when it comes to playoff seeding. UBC will also be looking to atone for their 2017 Canada West final four opening match loss to the Spartans. The T-Birds swept both UFV and TWU in their respective 2017 regular season series.
First touch in Abbotsford Friday night is set for 5:30 p.m. PT at the Matsqui Recreation Centre. Saturday's match against the Spartans begins at 5:00 p.m. PT at Chase Office Field.
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Last Action
Danielle Steer scored UBC's lone goal to power the 'Birds to a season opening 1-0 win over the Vikes in Victoria. Goalkeeper
Emily Moore earned the clean sheet making five saves.
Players to Watch
Margaret Hadley (#11, F) – The veteran forward from North Vancouver returns for her final season as a Thunderbird after a highly productive 2017 that saw her finish third on the team in both goals (5) and points (10). Hadley's point total was tied for sixth overall in the Canada West.
Emily Moore (#1, GK) – The third-year keeper has big shoes to fill now as the go-to netminder following the graduation of
Marlee Maracle. Moore started the new season with a clean sheet making five saves. In five game starts in 2017, the Victoria native had three wins with two draws and one shutout.
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Coach's Take
Pleased with the season opening win in Victoria, UBC head coach
Jesse Symons views this weekend as a good early-season litmus test for his squad.
"This upcoming weekend is always a difficult one with two very, very good teams that we'll have to be at our best against to come away with points," said Symons now in his third season with UBC. "They're probably teams that we'll match up against in the playoffs so it'll be good to see where they're at and where we're at in relation to them."
This year's team features a well-rounded squad, but Symons has been especially impressed with his midfielders, led by second-year
Tess McRae and third-year
Rachel Kordysz.
"They're sort of silent leaders, they do all those little details that make you be successful. Overall they're two players that managed the game against UVic extremely well and we're going to expect the same this upcoming weekend with big minutes. We're excited to see the growth of their partnership as we go through the season, but early on the chemistry they've shown has been fantastic."
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