LETHBRIDGE – The UBC Thunderbirds (6-0-2) pulled out a dramatic 2-2 tie with the Pronghorns (2-2-3) at the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium Sunday afternoon to remain undefeated midway through the Canada West season.
 
The Pronghorns delivered the first blow of the game against the number one ranked T-Birds. Kai Sakaguchi would open the scoring by taking a pass from Will Hughes and driving one past 'Birds keeper Bennett McKay. The goal was only the third that UBC had allowed this season.
 
The 'Birds then had a great chance to tie it up at the end of the first half, but Bradley Richardson missed wide on Horns goalkeeper Armaan Thawer. That meant that the T-Birds entered half-time trailing for the first time this year.
 
After the break, UBC was back on the attack. The team marched quickly down the pitch and seemed to set up a great opportunity to tie the game. However, U SPORTS goals leader Sebastian Dzikowski was called offside on a close play. Dzikowski leads the nation with 12 goals this season and this marked the first game all year in which he failed to find the back of the net.
 
Even without a tally from their top scorer, the T-Birds managed to tie it up In the 65th minute. Markus Kaiser threaded a pass to Luke Norman who found himself with space in the box just 15 yards from the goal. The first year made no mistake, hammering a shot into the bottom right corner of the net for his third goal on the season.


 
The Pronghorns pushed to get the go ahead goal down the stretch, but late chances by Tyrell Cook and David Musk couldn't find the back of the Thunderbirds' net.
 
In second half stoppage time, disaster struck for UBC. A hand ball gave Lethbridge midfielder Karim Bey a penalty kick and he knocked a low drive past McKay to give the home team a lead and what looked to be a sure win.

The 'Birds however, weren't ready to go home yet.

As Pronghorns players tried to reign in their celebration and with the Lethbridge fans going wild, the T-Birds quickly attacked with downfield passes until they had the ball in the right corner of the Horns end. A deflected pass from the corner found Kaiser streaking toward the goal at the right edge of the penalty area. The star midfielder made two deft touches to draw the Lethbridge defenders and keeper toward him before slipping a perfect, leading pass across the crease to Tomas Pena who knocked the ball into the gaping net, stunning the crowd.

The T-Birds had tied it in just 32 seconds, preserving their undefeated record in the process.

UBC now comes back west to Point Grey to being a three game home stand on Friday, September 22nd when the University of Calgary Dinos come to town for a 7:30 p.m. (PT) start at Ken Woods Field. Watch the game live on Canada West TV.