After four straight road games to begin the season, the UBC Thunderbirds made a triumphant return home with a 4-0 win over the Calgary Dinos. First-year forward
Sydney Le stole the show, potting all four goals in her first career game at Wright Field.
"We were really excited when we recruited Sydney," said Thunderbirds head coach Geoff Matthews. "She doesn't play like a rookie. She plays like a really senior player, and she's also there to set up her teammates and make her teammates better too. She's a real asset to the team."
It only took a few minutes before the T-Birds were off and running, when Le received the ball inside the hash marks with her back to goal. She quickly spun around her defender and fired, beating the Calgary netminder to put her team on the board.
Kaia Cooper nearly doubled the lead in the 11th minute, but her shot from a tight angle hit off the post and stayed out. On the ensuing play, however, a UBC penalty corner led to a scramble in front and it was Le in the right place at the right time to slice the ball home with her backhand.
The North Vancouver native then made it a first half hat-trick in the second quarter, scoring a goal quite similar to her first where she turned around her defender and rifled the ball into the bottom corner.
Down 3-0, the Dinos tried to rally and put the pressure on with a couple penalty corners, but the T-Birds defense stood tall and came up with some crucial blocks when needed.
The Thunderbirds remained in control of the game in the second half, and notched one more goal off a fantastic team play in the 43rd.
Riley Brown led a three-woman fastbreak deep into the Dinos half, before dishing it outside to
Mikayla Stelling. The fourth-year midfielder played a beautiful pass across goal right onto the stick of Le, who was waiting at the back post for the tap-in.
The win improves the T-Birds' record to 3-0-2, with their fourth shutout of the season as well. These two teams face off again tomorrow morning in their fourth and final meeting of the year.
This game was also a big one for Matthews, who patrolled the sidelines in his first-ever home game as head coach of the Thunderbirds. He was all smiles after the final whistle, happy to have marked the special occasion with a big win.
"It's really exciting to be at home, as always with a good crowd here" added Matthews. "It was good road trip, but good to be home."
Sunday's game between the 'Birds and the Dinos begins at 11:00 a.m. (PT) at Wright Field.
SCORING SUMMARY
UBC –
Sydney Le, FG, 4', 1-0 UBC
UBC –
Sydney Le, PC, 11', 2-0 UBC
UBC –
Sydney Le, FG, 24', 3-0 UBC
UBC –
Sydney Le, FG, 43', 4-0 UBC
GOALKEEPERS
UBC –
Hannah Rumble, 45MP, 0GA
UBC –
Robyn Goh, 15MP, 0GA
CGY – Alana Madrid, 60MP, 4GA
CARDS
CGY – Elliot Kellough, GC, 34'
CGY – Ella Stone, GC, 36'
CGY – Jadyn Campbell, GC, 43'
CGY – Ella Blanke, YC, 47'
CGY – Ella Stone, YC, 59'
