VANCOUVER – It was a heartbreaking loss for the Thunderbirds at Wright Field on Sunday afternoon, as they gave up a pair of goals in the final five minutes to the Victoria Vikes, suffering their first loss of the Canada West season in the process.
 
The T-Birds certainly had their chances throughout the game, and dominated possession for large swaths of the second half, but just couldn't find their way past the resolute UVic defensive front.
 
"It's obviously frustrating," remarked UBC head coach Geoff Matthews. "We wanted to get the win today, but I'm really proud of the group. Unfortunately, it was our best game of the season, just not on the scoreboard. I thought we played really well in patches, we just weren't able to get across the line and score the goals that we needed."


 
The first of the big chances for the T-Birds on the day came just five minutes in, when Thora Rae fired a turnaround shot from the top of the shooting circle, in an attempt very similar to her goal from the previous day. This time, however, the ball rang off the post, bouncing out of play.
 
Libby Hogg had UVic's best chance of the opening frame, unleashing a powerful shot on goal from a penalty corner, but it was stopped by a sprawling Pascale Pottier.
 
Neither team could find a breakthrough in the first half, for which UBC could credit to an unbelievable defensive play from Kenzie Girgis. After Hogg blasted another shot from a penalty corner, the rebound looked like it was going to be tucked away by the Vikes but Girgis dove to the ground and blocked the ball with her body, saving a sure goal.


 
The Thunderbirds began to turn the screws after the halftime break, with the Vikes taking a bend but don't break approach defensively.
 
Sydney Le nearly broke the deadlock with five mins to play in the third quarter, stealing the ball off a Vikes defender and running in on goal. Anais Chace was alert to the danger, however, and immediately charged out of her net and smothered the ball before Le could get a clear shot off.
 
UVic then had a goal line clearance of their own at the beginning of the fourth, with Molly Harris whacking the ball away before another effort from Le could roll over the line.
 
The decisive moment then came with just five mins to play, as the Vikes broke out of their end with a devastating counterattack. The rush ended with Sadie Lee tipping a cross into the middle past Robyn Goh and into the T-Birds' net.
 
Jaden Dawson then sealed the deal in the dying moments, as with the Thunderbirds throwing more players forward, they were left more exposed at the back. The Vikes took full advantage, with Josie Dunham picking off a pass in the UBC half and laying a simple ball through to Dawson who slid it into the goal, much to the delight of the travelling supporters.


 
"Our aim has always been to get better every game," said Matthews. "As I just said to the girls now, as much as it sucks to lose, that was our best performance. There's still a lot of hockey to be played…a lot of things can happen. We'll prepare our best and we'll be ready to compete with UVic and Calgary in our next games."
 
The Thunderbirds now have next weekend off before they return to action in their second home series of the season against the Dinos. Those games happen at 11:00 a.m. (PT) on Saturday, October 4th, and Sunday, October 5th.
 
 
SCORING SUMMARY
VIC – Sadie Lee, FG, 55', 1-0 VIC
VIC – Jaden Dawson, FG, 60', 2-0 VIC
 
GOALKEEPERS
UBC – Pascale Pottier, 30MP, 0GA
UBC – Robyn Goh, 30MP, 2GA
VIC – Anais Chace, 60MP, 0GA
 
CARDS
VIC – Libby Hogg, GC, 17'
UBC – Kenzie Girgis, GC, 30'
UBC – Riley Brown, GC, 33'
VIC – Ava Winter, YC, 34'