VICTORIA - The U SPORTS No. 1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds (9-1-0) suffered their first loss of the season, a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Victoria Vikes (6-3-2), ending the T-Birds bid for a perfect campaign more than two-thirds of the way through the year.

"If we are going to miss the amount of chances we created it will be difficult to win games," said UBC head coach Jesse Symons. "As a collective we need to be more clinical."

The 'Birds and Vikes were fairly even through first half, but it was Victoria that broke through with the lone goal in the opening 45. Sophie Murphy knocked in her first of the year in the 26th minute, Tannis McKay picking up the assist. The goal snapped a six game streak of clean sheets for UBC, the first time anyone had scored on the T-Birds since September 8th.



After trailing at the half for the first time all year, the T-Birds came out firing to start the second frame. The blue and gold peppered the Vikes with 10 shots in the final 45, but they never solved Victoria keeper Kayley Lidstone, who made seven total saves.

"UVIC came out with a big fight and finished well on their chance in the first half," commented Symons. "It was tough not to score early in the second with our energy."

The Vikes tacked on a goal in the 90th minute from Erin Jensen, handing the T-Birds their first regular season loss in more than a calendar year.

"It was a great run to start the year and this will hopefully be a small bump in our season," concluded Symons.



UBC has a chance to bounce back in front of the crowd at Thunderbird Stadium next week, as the team begins a four-game home stand ahead of the playoffs. A date with UNBC is next on the calendar, the Timberwolves coming to Point Grey for a back-to-back, starting with a 5:00 p.m. (PT) matchup on Friday, October 6th. Stream all of the action on Canada West TV.