Wright Field was home to an end-to-end game on Sunday morning, as the UBC Thunderbirds and Calgary Dinos doubled the goal output from their previous matchup. When the dust finally settled, it was the T-Birds walking away with a 5-3 win.
 
"What I liked is when we looked to play our style of hockey, we were really dangerous," said Thunderbirds head coach Geoff Matthews. "The part we struggled on is when we went away from what we wanted to do…that pushed us back and then we didn't defend very well after that. We'll clean it up."


 
It took less than 90 seconds for the scoring to get underway, as Kenzie Girgis made a great play to step up and intercept a pass in the Dinos' half of the field. She drove forward and dished it to Sydney Le, who scored her conference-leading eighth goal of the season.
 
Danielle McBean doubled the lead just a few minutes later, although the highlight on the goal was the work of Mikayla Stelling. The UBC midfielder went coast-to-coast on a phenomenal solo run, weaving through a myriad of defenders before playing a pass to her sister Shannon Stelling, who immediately squared it to McBean for the tap-in.
 
In the second quarter, Riley Brown showed some fancy footwork as she danced along the endline before playing the ball into the middle, where the goal was finished off by Kaia Cooper. Up 3-0 with just 22 minutes played, the T-Birds looked to be in full control.


 
However, the Dinos responded more or less immediately, getting on the board with a penalty corner that deflected in through heavy traffic in front of the UBC goal. It was just the second goal of the entire season conceded up to that point by the 'Birds, and it galvanized the visitors who played with renewed energy the rest of the game.
 
UBC came out of halftime up 3-1, and scored their fourth off a penalty corner of their own in the 32nd minute. This time it was Girgis who got her stick on it to grab the goal. Again though, the Dinos bounced back, as five minutes later Nina Khalfan let rip a powerful shot from a penalty corner that found its way into the back of the net.
 
The T-Birds jumped out to a three-goal lead for the third time on the day early in the fourth quarter, with Girgis again getting the final touch on a well-designed play off yet another penalty corner. Calgary still refused to admit defeat, and for a third time of their own cut into the UBC lead with another goal from Khalfan in the closing stages.
 
That was all she wrote, however, as the Thunderbirds held on for the win. Now 4-0-2 on the season with just two games left, UBC will have the chance to win the Canada West title on home field in a final weekend series against Victoria.
 

?? WFH | After UBC's victory over Calgary, midfielder Kenzie Girgis spoke about the team's offensive rhythm and their chance to win a championship at home. #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/PQ6QSlXZRG

— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) September 29, 2024

This is the best record the T-Birds have had through six games since 2017, when they last won the conference championship.
 
"Like I said to the team, it wasn't our best performance today, but we're still exactly where we want to be," added Matthews. "To come out with four wins and two draws is perfect. We're excited."
 
The all-important clashes with the Vikes will take place at Wright Field on Saturday, October 19th, and Sunday, October 20th.
 
 
SCORING SUMMARY
UBC – Sydney Le, FG, 2', 1-0 UBC
UBC – Danielle McBean, FG, 6', 2-0 UBC
UBC – Kaia Cooper, FG, 22', 3-0 UBC
CGY – Allegra Nelson, PC, 23', 3-1 UBC
UBC – Kenzie Girgis, PC, 32', 4-1 UBC
CGY – Nina Khalfan, PC, 37', 4-2 UBC
UBC – Kenzie Girgis, PC, 48', 5-2 UBC
CGY – Nina Khalfan, PC, 55', 5-3 UBC
 
GOALKEEPERS
UBC – Hannah Rumble, 60MP, 3GA
CGY – Alana Madrid, 60MP, 5GA
 
CARDS
UBC – Shyana Ringma, GC, 25'
UBC – Shyana Ringma, GC, 28'
CGY – Isabella Green, GC, 34'
UBC – Shannon Stelling, GC, 58'