Vancouver, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds continued their perfect start to the new Canada West women's soccer season with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the visiting UBCO Heat at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday evening.
UBC did their damage in the first half with a brace from
Vanessa Tome and a 5th of the season for
Bailey Doerksen, but a long range effort from Annika Gross kept UBCO in at the break.
The Heat grabbed a second from Alyssa Scott just before the hour mark to set up an interesting finish, but the Thunderbirds held on to secure a third straight victory.
"We felt in control, jumping on the front foot early was really good," UBC head coach
Jesse Symons said after the match. "Getting up 3-1, we shouldn't be allowing goals off set pieces, even second phase, but letting them get back in the game on a rebound made the game more interesting. We couldn't find another goal after but managed to hold on and keep them away from our penalty box as the game went on."
It only took UBC 64 seconds to get the breakthrough in their home opener.
Nisa Reehal won the ball and took off up the right wing, centering the ball perfectly to Tome, who took a touch inside before firing home her second of the season.
The Thunderbirds doubled their lead in the 18th minute in a fast-paced counter.
Mary Nicholls sent the ball up the right wing for
Jayda Thompson. The winger put on the jets to leave her marker in her wake and centred the ball for Doerksen to score her 5th of the campaign.
UBCO almost pulled one back immediately when
Dakota Beckett couldn't hold on to Scott's shot, but no-one could put away the rebound for the Heat.
The visitors did reduce the deficit in the 22nd minute with a lovely 25-yard looper from Gross, that flew over Beckett and into the top left corner.
UBC restored their two goal advantage in the 31st minute. Rookie
Olivia Gomez grabbed her first assist of her college career, deftly playing the ball into Tome, whose glancing header to the back post took the ball past a diving Talia Gagnon, for her second of the match.
The Heat were lively to start the second half and they reduced the deficit to one once again when Scott tucked away a rebound after Beckett had parried away a shot from Maya Letellier.
UBC almost added a fourth in the 71st minute but Gagnon produced a goalline save to keep out a
Jade Taylor-Ryan header and the 'Birds settled for the one goal victory.
Ahead of kickoff the defending U SPORTS national champion T-Birds were honoured with their banner in front of their home fans. The title win from last November in Kingston, Ont. was the eighth storied program's
UBC are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they take on the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack at Thunderbird Stadium. Kick off is 1pm. UBCO now head north to Prince George to take on the UNBC Timberwolves at noon on Sunday.
