VANCOUVER - The division-leading UBC Thunderbirds (5-1-1) head north to Prince George this weekend for a pair of matches against the UNBC Timberwolves (4-4-1) on Friday, September 29, at 6:00 p.m. PT and Sunday, September 29, at 12:00 p.m. PT.
The No.5-ranked 'Birds will aim to extend their current three game winning streak and maintain their spot atop the Pacific division as they embark on their final road trip of the regular season. The Timberwolves have won three of their last four Canada West matches, but occupy seventh and last place based on their winning percentage in the tightly contested division.
UBC and UNBC squared off in a preseason tilt earlier this season at Thunderbird stadium, when the T-Birds earned a 5-0 victory.
Last Action
The 'Birds picked up two big wins on the road in Edmonton last weekend, edging the MacEwan Griffins 2-1 and defeating the Alberta Golden Bears 5-1, thanks to game-winning goals by Edmonton native Jackson Farmer. Farmer scored the go-ahead marker in each - also picking up an assist on Ryan Arthur's 3-1 goal against Alberta. The Thunderbirds now lead the Canada West with 144 shots and are second in goal scoring (20) behind Mount Royal (23).
UNBC split their series in Edmonton a week ago, losing 3-2 to Alberta before downing MacEwan 1-0
Coach's Take
From the beginning of the season, the 'Birds had been generating plenty of chances but had trouble executing on those chances. That is until last Sunday in Edmonton where they put five on Alberta. But make no mistake, UBC's veteran head coach isn't satisfied.
"We knew somewhere along the way that was going to happen, albeit, four of the five against Alberta were off set pieces," said
Mike Mosher who will be gunning for a third straight conference championship later this fall. "But, that was also a goal coming off a weekend where we didn't score goals and didn't execute on set pieces. Hopefully one or two guys can really step up and start to increase their totals."
The offence is starting to come along but the 'Birds would like to clean up other aspects of their game.
"We may be our most vulnerable when we do have the ball," added Mosher. "We've given the ball away in some not so good spots so we need to eliminate that and be better at defending counterattacks. We've been our own worst enemy at times."
The T-Birds have conceded just two goals over their last three games, a trend Mosher also needs to see continue.
"To have success in playoffs and go where we want to go, you can't concede a goal per game. Against top teams in Canada West or at nationals if we get there, you can't concede and that's something we have to improve, period."
