VANCOUVER –
Victory Shumbusho scored a goal and added an assist to help lead the UBC Thunderbirds to a 2-0 victory over the Calgary Dinos in the Canada West men's soccer Final Four gold medal game Saturday night at Thunderbird Stadium.
It's a third straight Canada West Championship title for UBC and a record 20th overall for the decorated program and, along with the silver medalist Dinos, will travel to the U SPORTS Men's Soccer Championship next week in Montreal.
"It's great, I told you last night that this program is about lifting trophies and banners," said UBC head coach
Mike Mosher. "I told the boys before the game this is their opportunity for their own little bit of history in winning a Canada West championship and we succeeded tonight with bringing in some fresh bodies, we got on top early after a few good looks, I thought it was just a matter of time until we got the first. Victory is a big game player he always shows up in playoff games and I'm pleased for him. In the second half, their goalkeeper made quite a few good saves and credit to him."
The T-Birds pushed the pace and possession from kickoff with repeated play in the Dinos final third. In the second minute
Victory Shumbusho sent a through ball for
Sean Einarsson who from 11 yards out drilled a hard shot on goal that was well saved by standout Calgary goalkeeper Jake Ruschkowski.
The Dinos responded eight minutes later with the always dangerous Mark Bohdan collecting a turnover past midfield and unleashing a sizzling shot from 23 yards out that was deflected before forcing UBC goalkeeper
Jason Roberts to make a good stop.
The 'Birds would eventually be rewarded for their repeated foray's forward as
Logan Chung took the ball with speed down the left channel into the Dinos box and was taken down just ahead of the end line for a penalty kick call. UBC leading scorer, Shumbusho would step up and make no mistake slotting it into the right corner in minute 27 to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Just ahead of halftime UBC would increase their lead thanks to Shumbusho streaking down the right channel into the Dinos area before feeding a pass across goal that
Thomas Gardner one timed into the left corner from 14 yards out and a 2-0 advantage in the 43rd minute.
Coming out of the break in minute 61, the 'Birds narrowly missed adding to their lead after a sweet through ball from Gardner to Shumbusho who put it behind Ruschkowski from 12 yards out however Dinos defender Nahum Tsegai hurried back to make an impressive sliding goal-line clearance.
With UBC's relentless pressure Ruschkowski continued to stand tall, repeatedly coming up with diving saves off Einarsson in the 76th and 83rd minutes while also stoning
Sam Fletcher in minute 84 to keep the score 2-0 until the final whistle. The Calgary goalkeeper made 10 saves in the championship final.
