OTTAWA – It's been a long wait that likely feels a lot longer for those set to take to the pitch in Ottawa as the UBC Thunderbirds open up play at the 2021 U SPORTS National Championship at 4:30 p.m. PT Thursday against the host Carleton Ravens in Ottawa.
Having booked their ticket to a sixth straight national tournament appearance two weeks ago, the four-time defending Canada West champions have their sights now set solely on securing their first U SPORTS banner since 2013.
But before anyone can think about Sunday's gold medal match, the 'Birds face a formidable opponent in the host Ravens.
"Firstly, we're thrilled for the group to be here, everything seems really well organized," said UBC Head Coach Mike Mosher who has overseen five national titles with the T-Birds. "Conditions are going to be cool and maybe a little bit wet but nothing we're not too unused to coming from B.C."
Something else not unfamiliar to the 'Birds is their quarter-final opponent. The last time UBC and Carleton met was back at the 2018 tournament when the host Thunderbirds were downed 3-2 in double overtime. It's a result that remains in the back of the minds of many, but as far as Mosher's concerned, the past is the past.
"2018 was 2018 and everyone's been through a heck of a lot since then," he said. "This is a new chapter as far as I'm concerned. Some players and coaches from both teams were involved, but this is a new deal. The one thing I look back on from 2018, obviously with disappointment from not getting a result on the day, but that was a heck of a game. 120 minutes right down to the end and that was one of the more exciting U SPORTS soccer games for fans in recent years."
The Ravens finished their OUA regular season 7-1-2, second in the East division behind the York Lions. Following a 3-1 win over McMaster in the first round of playoffs, the Ravens fell 1-0 to Guelph in a conference semifinal.
Despite their earlier than planned exit from the OUA post-season, the Ravens are a deep squad, similar in many respects to the Thunderbirds.
"Both teams like to play, both teams are at Nationals on a regular basis," added Mosher. "They're a good team, really well organized. (Head Coach Kwesi Loney) has done a good job with that program and know they're at home and hoping to get it done on home soil. I have lots of respect for their team and for Kwesi and what he's done."
The crowd will be in the Ravens' favour, but the T-Birds are a battle-tested squad by necessity after a year that's seen countless obstacles thrown their way.
"I've always thought that when you come to Nationals having faced some form of adversity, that's a good thing. It creates a little bit more of a battle ready team and certainly we've faced all forms of different things this season. I hope that it helps, but you never know."
You just never know, indeed, in a single-game elimination tournament such as this.
The winner of Thursday night's quarter-final will face either Cape Breton or Laval in a semifinal Saturday.
Kickoff between the T-Birds and Ravens is 4:30 p.m. PT Thursday at Raven's Perch in the nation's capital. The game will be streamed live on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
