Despite a bit of a scare in the second half, the UBC Thunderbirds picked up their 10th win of the season on the road against the UFV Cascades. The victory keeps the T-Birds in pole position to claim first place in the Pacific Division.

UBC got the scoring underway just a few minutes in, after a silky smooth play by Henri Godbout to beat his man down the sideline. The tic-tac-toe passing play that followed set up Chris Lee on a breakaway and he finished it off to put the visitors in front.

That was the only goal of the first half, although the T-Birds did have to weather some pressure from the Cascades. Bennett McKay was called into action a few times as he made four saves in the opening 45 minutes, keeping the score 1-0 going into the break.

Things did get nervy for the 'Birds midway through the second half, as UFV struck twice in just three minutes to take the lead. But just as quickly as things turned for the worse, they turned back to the good as Godbout delivered a headed goal to even the score once again. The cross came from defender Eric Kim, who recorded his first assist of the season.

That proved to be the momentum swinging play the T-Birds needed, as they jumped back into the lead with two more goals in the closing stages. First it was Luke Norman who notched his sixth goal of the year in the 74th, before he then set up Joven Mann for the insurance marker in the 83rd.



With the win, UBC's record is now 10-1-3, staying just ahead of UVic for the top spot in the Pacific Division. If the Thunderbirds win their match on Saturday against Trinity Western, they clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. If they lose or draw, then they leave the door open for the Vikes to take that from them.

That match against the Spartans begins at 7:15 p.m. (PT) in Langley.