VANCOUVER – Having now enjoyed a much-needed Canada West bye week, the number one ranked UBC Thunderbirds return to conference action this Thursday night when they host the University of Victoria Vikes at Thunderbird Stadium.
It's the first half of a home-and-home series that concludes on Vancouver Island Saturday for what could very well determine who finishes atop the competitive Pacific division.
The T-Birds have been rocketing through the regular season, boasting a conference best 8-0-2 record. UBC also leads the Canada West with 29 goals and a +24 goal differential.
As good as the blue and gold have been so far in 2023, they're in for perhaps their most difficult two game stretch as the 7-1-2 Vikes head to Thunderbird Stadium winners of four straight without having conceded a goal in each of their last three contests.
"Full credit to UVIC, they've done a really good job to this point of time in the season with a lot of young players," said UBC head coach,
Mike Mosher. "They're right in the thick of it and results this weekend could swing it their way. Like for any other opponent, we have to prepare properly and not take anybody lightly."
Having moved up into the U SPORTS Top 10 this week, the Vikes boast a potent offence in their own right, led by midfielder Javier Sagaste whose nine points on the season has him tied for second in conference scoring (5G, 4A) behind only UBC's
Sebastian Dzikowski who himself is chasing some Canada West history.
Dzikowski's 13 goals are just one shy of the all-time Thunderbird single-season record set by Craig Chiasson back in 1994. With six regular season games remaining, the third-year forward from Calgary is also closing in on the conference record of 19 goals last achieved just last season by UNBC's Michael Henman.
But to a man, the T-Birds remain fully focused on group accomplishments.
"If guys get some individual accolades, that's nice. But as a group, as a team, we always look at our goals which are to come first in the division, give ourselves the best chance to win a Canada West championship and then go on and win a national championship," said Mosher. "Any individual awards are bonuses and it's nice for the players and we would celebrate anything that goes along that way, but I think as a coaching staff, and all the players, it's all about the team goals and team successes."
With just the six games remaining and a critical pair of matchups against the division rival Vikes staring them in the face, it's not hard for the 'Birds to stay focussed on the task at hand.
"It's just continued hard work with no complacency and looking to keep getting better every single weekend," said Mosher of the mindset for the remainder of the season. "We need to continue to be sharp and well prepared as we go into these important games this weekend and over the next couple weeks."
Given the position the T-Birds are in and the successes at both ends of the pitch, there's really not much by way of adjustments required. With their overnight travel now fully behind them and only two of their remaining six games away from Thunderbird Stadium, the 'Birds are set up for success. But the Vikes will most certainly not make it easy going this weekend.
Kickoff Thursday for the first half of this crucial home-and-home series is set for 5:30 p.m. PT at Thunderbird Stadium.
Tickets are available now and the game will also be
streamed live on Canada West TV.
