It was a first half to remember for the UBC Thunderbirds, as they scored seven goals in 40 minutes en route to a second consecutive 7-0 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves.

Jade Taylor-Ryan and Holly Whelan were the offensive stars for the T-Birds, as they put up video game numbers in a dominant showing for the #1 ranked team in U SPORTS.

The party got started just four minutes in, when the T-Birds got a four-on-three fast break towards the UNBC goal. The ball found its way to Whelan on the left flank, who fired it home. The Markham, Ontario native then doubled the lead in the 8th minute, with Taylor-Ryan earning the assist just as she did on the first goal.



The Thunderbirds didn't let up, and notched a third goal in the 11th. This time, it was Whelan who set up Taylor-Ryan. After the midfielder stole the ball from a high press near the penalty box, she played it to Taylor-Ryan whose shot took a fortunate deflection off a defender's foot and into the back of the net.

The fourth goal was very similar to the first, although this time it was Sophia Ferreira who picked the pocket of a Timberwolves player in the UBC attacking third. She fed it to Taylor-Ryan immediately, who once again made no mistake.

Just a minute after that, the lead stretched even further. Whelan again set up Taylor-Ryan by driving into the box and cutting it across to the forward, who rifled it top corner. The first-time strike made it two hat tricks in as many days for the fourth-year star.

The onslaught continued in the 31st, when Taylor-Ryan found herself in some space on the right flank. She whipped in a great cross to Bailey Doerksen who was wide open at the back post. The UBC #9 calmly took a touch and placed it into the back of the net for her seventh goal of the season.

Whelan then got her own hat trick (the first of her UBC career) in the 38th to put a cherry on top of the blowout. It was arguably the best finish of the night as well, as she fired a first-time shot from the edge of the box that looped perfectly over the goalie's head and under the bar.

This UBC first half performance etched a couple of names into the Canada West record book. Taylor-Ryan's three goals and three assists tied the conference record for most points in a single half, and she's the first player to ever contribute to six consecutive goals in a half. Whelan's five first half points also made her just the eighth player to ever reach that mark in Canada West.



In terms of this season, Taylor-Ryan's incredible run of form has catapulted her to first in Canada West in points (18), and tied for first in goals (12). To make those numbers even more impressive, she's recorded all 12 goals and five of her six assists in just the last seven games.

The second half was not nearly as eventful, as the T-Birds assuredly saw out the rest of the game. They did not give up a single shot attempt all night, while peppering the UNBC goal with 31 of their own.

Now 12-0, the Thunderbirds have just two more games before the playoffs begin, both on the road. First up is a trip to Abbotsford to play UFV on Friday, October 18th. Then, the T-Birds play rivals Trinity Western to close the regular season on Saturday, October 19th.