VANCOUVER –
Katalin Tolnai's remarkable play continued Saturday as she scored both UBC goals in a 2-1 victory over the visiting MacEwan Griffins at Thunderbird Stadium.
The Canada West's leading scorer tallied twice in the opening half and now has seven goals in her last three games while the Thunderbirds improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season while the Griffins fall to 2-2.
"I think we showed our class today and got a fair result," said UBC Head Coach,
Jesse Symons who has guided his squad to a 5-0 start for the second straight season. "They got behind us once and tried to push momentum but I thought overall our team had a lot of quality. Overall, a six point weekend again and we'll get ready to head to Winnipeg."
The T-Birds poured it on early and often with several quality chances before the game entered the fifth minute. MacEwan keeper Breanna Truscott was forced to make a pair of grade 'A' saves off Tolnai and
Sophie Damian in quick succession to keep the game scoreless.
UBC's relentless pursuit paid off in the 10
th minute when Tolnai scored her league leading sixth of the season from the top of the 18-yard area.
Nisa Reehal played the ball off Truscott who had come out to challenge. It then bounced right to Tolnai who quickly turned and fired a perfectly placed strike over Truscott's head, just under the crossbar.
The defending U SPORTS champion Griffins responded in the 30
th minute to get the game level. Maya Morrell played a perfect through ball from midfield up to Alyx Henderson who turned on the jets to accept the pass behind UBC's defenders.
Sarah Johns came out to challenge but Henderson took a low shot and tucked it into the far side of the net, her second goal of the year and UBC's first conceded goal of the season.
"I knew that our shutout streak would end one of these days," admitted Symons facetiously. "Unfortunately it ended on a transition moment we probably could have been better with, but after that I thought we shut the door pretty well."
Before the half was out, the T-Birds regained the lead as Tolnai's torrid pace only picked up more steam as she secured her second goal of the game in the 42
nd minute. Receiving a cross from Reehal, Tolnai chipped it in from 14 yards out, off the crossbar as UBC carried a 2-1 lead into the break on what turned out to be the game winner.
"I think Kat has the potential along with Danielle (Steer), to be one of the best players in the country. Kat right now is getting into very good spaces and she's very confident with her turning and facing forward. We've asked her to dribble a bit more and get to the goal, she has that quality and she's sure showing it."
UBC was awarded a penalty in the 49
th minute after a handball was called on the Griffins in the box off a T-Birds free kick.
Danielle Steer stepped up to the mark in a bid to increase UBC's lead to two, but Truscott read it well and got in front of it with a critical save to keep it a one goal game.
Johns finished the game with five saves while picking up her Canada West leading fifth win.
The Griffins are back home in Edmonton next weekend to host the UNBC Timberwolves Saturday followed by a visit from the Calgary Dinos Sunday.
The number one ranked T-Birds hit the road to Winnipeg where they'll battle the Manitoba Bisons Saturday and the Winnipeg Wesmen Sunday looking to keep their unbeaten streak intact.
