ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds suffered their first loss of the Canada West season Sunday afternoon in Abbotsford, 5-1 to the host Fraser Valley Cascades at Rotary Stadium.

Manpal Brar scored twice while Jun Won Choi, Anthony Vega and Taylor Richardson added singles. Trevor Zanatta had a record-breaking performance with four assists, a new Canada West single-game record.

Choi lit the fuse for the Cascades (1-3-2) just 20 seconds into the game. Zanatta lofted a looping header into the box for Choi, who chested it down and finished with precision from close range.



The hosts appeared poised to double the lead in the 12th minute, as Parman Minhas was awarded a penalty kick, but T-Birds keeper Bennett McKay came up with a tremendous save, diving to his left to deny Vega.

Vega stuck with it, though, and made good in the 26th. Zanatta ventured into the box, drew the UBC defence, and slipped a no-look pass to Vega on his right, and he made no mistake.

Brar took over at that point, scoring twice in a two-minute span. Charandeep Rangi, in the 36th minute, sent a diagonal pass ahead to spring Brar on the breakaway, and he coolly finished. Shortly thereafter, another breakaway pass – this one from Zanatta – and Brar had his second.

UBC's Logan Chung gave his team hope in the 51st, getting the T-Birds on the board with his first of the season, but the 'Birds were unable to close the gap any further as Richardson restored the four-goal home side lead just five minutes later.

The T-Birds will return to the confines of Thunderbird Stadium next weekend when they host the UBC Okanagan Heat Friday and Saturday, October 8th and 9th. Both games kickoff at 7:30 p.m. PT. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance.