VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (1-0-1) are hosting the University of Victoria Vikes (0-0-2) for a pair of 11 a.m. (PT) games this weekend at Wright Field.

The T-Birds enjoyed a strong start to their season by picking up a regulation win and a shootout win in their first two games at Calgary, with reigning Canada West Goalkeeper of the Year Hannah Rumble blanking the Dinos in both contests.

"Our team had a nervy start to the first game of the year, everyone was so excited to play," noted UBC head coach Richard Hildreth. "We struggled with our organization and assignments defensively. Calgary played really well in both games. We need to be more clinical with our scoring opportunities."
 
 
Turning to this weekend's opponent, the visiting Vikes have been considered the best team in the country for quite some time, winning each of the last four Canada West and U SPORTS championships. However, the team stumbled in its first series of the year in Calgary, splitting a pair of shootouts and thereby dropping a game to the Dinos for the first time since 2011.
 
"We don't know too much about Victoria yet," commented Hildreth. "I think it's safe to assume that they'll be very well organized and very well coached. Historically, they play fast and physically and they have some dangerous attackers. I expect them to apply lots of pressure on us and they'll try to make it difficult for us to outlet."

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UVic topped UBC in three of their four matchups last season, including a 5-1 victory for the Vikes in Victoria to seal the Canada West championship. The T-Birds did get the best of their Vancouver Island opponents on one occasion, picking up a 3-2 shootout win in a matchup at Wright Field and handing the eventual national champions their only loss of any kind last year.
 
Hildreth believes bringing the proper mental approach will be essential for the T-Birds to topple their highly touted rival.
 
"I think the key to the game will be composure in attack and organization in defence," concluded the head coach. "If we're able to trust our ability to move the ball quickly, then we will be able to open the game up. We will struggle if we're weak on the ball and are not sharp with our defensive transition."
 
The 'Birds are beginning a month-long home stand that will also see them host the Calgary Dinos on October 15^th and 16^th. Find their full schedule here.