VANCOUVER – Following an impressive 2-0 start on opening weekend of the Canada West season the UBC Thunderbirds are all set for a short week and quick turnaround to host the UVic Vikes in their home opener Thursday, September 1
st at Thunderbird Stadium with kickoff at 7:00 p.m.
It should once again be a great blue and gold atmosphere with many in attendance expected to be a part of Jump Start, UBC's multi-day orientation designed to introduce first-year students to the university.
The T-Birds were tidy at both ends of the pitch on opening weekend on the road in outscoring their opponents by a 10-0 margin. It began with a resounding 8-0 victory Friday evening in Abbotsford over the Fraser Valley Cascades. The 'Birds scored four goals in each half and were led by fifth-year striker
Danielle Steer who tallied three goals and added two assists in the win, which went a long way in securing her receiving Canada West Women's Soccer Player of the Week honours.
Additional scoring was courtesy of third-year midfielder
Nisa Reehal, who finished with a brace and an assist, her first multi-goal game as a Thunderbird, while
Ava Alexander scored and added a pair of assists for a career best night.
Sophia Ferreira and
Jade Taylor-Ryan also found the back of the net as UBC scored eight goals for the first time since October of 2016 against the TRU WolfPack.
The following night saw the T-Birds employ an efficient game plan to grind out a 2-0 victory over the defending Canada West Champion Trinity Western Spartans. Reehal and Steer found the back of the net yet again for their third and fourth goals respectively of the young season in the second half but it was fourth-year goalkeeper
Sarah Johns who stole the show. The fourth-year product out of Calgary, AB made a single-game, career high eight saves – five of which came in the first half with the game still deadlocked at 0-0.
"The ability of the team to really manage games with and without the ball was excellent through the first 2 matches," said UBC head coach
Jesse Symons in recapping the weekend. "We're hoping to continue to have a very attacking oriented mindset as we lead towards our season opener. To come away with two clean sheets was a testament to our entire team with the work and attitude they put in to make it difficult for UFV and TWU to get around our goal. We will hope to continue this in throughout the season."
The visiting Vikes come to town in search of their first victory after opening the season on the road against the same teams UBC faced but in reverse order. UVic suffered a 3-0 loss on Friday night vs TWU while playing to a hard-fought 0-0 draw the following evening against UFV.
"UVic always employs tremendous energy and character against us," added Symons. "They are hard to breakdown and have some players each year that are good in the attacking part of the field with athleticism and skill. We will have to come out very motivated to manage the game and keep the ball in their half. We expect the game to be quite entertaining for all involved with the types of players on both teams."
Of note: With four goals and six total points Steer cemented herself as the Canada West Women's Soccer Player of the Week while moving into a tie for seventh in all-time Canada West goals. She now has 36 in her career, 15 back of record holder and T-Birds alumnae Janine Frazao,
Admission for UBC students is free but you'll need to reserve your tickets.
All ticket details here.
The game will be streamed live on
Canada West TV.
