KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds outlasted the UBC Okanagan Heat by a score of 3-2 on Friday evening at Nonis Sports Field. With the victory the T-Birds improved to 3-0 on the Canada West season while the Heat suffered their first setback of the campaign, falling to 2-1-1 to sit just behind UBC in second spot in the Pacific Division.
"We had to work hard to control the game and we had some exceptional moments," said UBC head coach
Jesse Symons. "They scored just before half that gave some life, but we had such a great reaction in the second and we were full credit in the end."
The T-Birds opened the scoring late in the first half with fourth-year forward
Katalin Tolnai directing home a superb cross from
Emma Hooton to record her second marker of the season in minute 41.
The Heat would respond shortly thereafter as Kelowna native Stefanie Young's drive got past UBC goalkeeper
Dakota Beckett, tying the game at 1-1 in the 45
th minute, Young's goal broke the 'Birds shutout streak at 225 minutes, registering as the first goal they've given up this season.
After the break it was
Nisa Reehal netting her first tally of the year after a feed from
Sophie Damian to go up 2-1 in minute 68, as the pair capitalized in transition following a UBCO turnover deep in UBC territory.
First-year defender
Sarah Rollins would later step up for the eventual game winner in the 76
th minute cleaning up a scramble in the Heat 18-yard box following a Tolnai cross to make it 3-1 for the visitors.
The hosts made it more interesting in the late stages as Abigail Taneda scored an opportunistic tally to pull within one at 3-2 in the 90
th minute but the referee blew the final whistle shortly thereafter.
"I'm super proud of how we performed as the game wore on tonight," added Symons. "It was exciting to see
Sarah Rollins score her first goal and Kat Tolnai contribute and set the tone with a goal and an assist tonight."
The Thunderbirds continue their weekend road trip on Saturday evening when they visit the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff in Kamloops.