VANCOUVER, BC - UBC Thunderbirds got the defense of their Canada West title off to a winning start at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver on Friday night with a 1-0 victory over the visiting UFV Cascades.
It was a dominant performance from UBC in terms of possession and shots on goal (22 to zero), but they could only turn that into one goal, with Katalin Tolnai continuing on from her 17-goal 2022 season with the matchwinner in first half stoppage time.
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"The players will be a little disappointed after the possession that we had and with the amount of times we got into their penalty box," UBC head coach
Jesse Symons mused after the match. "But overall it was a well played game in terms of getting a result. In terms of adding to the points for the girls this year, obviously not what we want, but in terms of the possession and structure, I thought we managed the game very well."
UBC dominated the first half play but found it hard to break down a resolute UFV defence, with Cascades goalkeeper Kareena Sahota having a strong showing in goal.
Rookie
Sarah Rollins came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute when she headed a
Sophie Damian corner off the bar.
The woodwork denied UBC again five minutes before half time when Sophie Kramer got on the end of a superb
Jayda Thompson cross.
The Cascades had come more into the match as the half wore on but the Thunderbirds finally got their breakthrough a minute into first half stoppage time through a bullet header from Tolnai, powerfully heading home a pinpoint Damian cross from the left.
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Tolnai came close to adding a second seven minutes into the second half when she was played in from
Vanessa Tome and tried to round the keeper, but Sahota stuck out a perfectly timed leg to knock the danger away.
The Thunderbirds continued to dominate the play and the possession but weren't able to carve out too many clear cut goalscoring chances or find a way past Sahota.
Their best two chances came in second half stoppage time when
Jade Taylor-Ryan saw a header go inches past the right post and then
Nisa Reehal fired one over from a great position in front of goal.
Next up for UBC is a home clash with old foes Trinity Western Spartans at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday afternoon (1pm kick off). It's a match that even this early in the season could have huge playoff implications and it's a game Symons is very much looking forward to.
"Hopefully we'll have a great game against a local rival," Symons added. "Both of us will be aiming for three points and I think it will be an electric game."
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