VANCOUVER, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds (13-0-1) wrapped up their 2026 Canada West regular season schedule with an emphatic 7-0 victory over the visiting UNBC Timberwolves (0-12) at a history-making Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday evening.
UBC headed into the break with a narrow one-goal lead after
Sienna Gibson's early opener, before a six-goal second half blitz spearheaded by a
Felicia Hanisch hat-trick and four-point haul from
Maddy Norman gave the Thunderbirds the perfect send-off on Senior Night.
Norman grabbed a goal and three assists to tie the Canada West single-season points record, joining UBC alumni Danielle Steer and Katalin Tolnai at the 22-point mark, and capping off a fantastic season for the third year forward.
"It was an awesome team performance," Norman said after the match. "It was a little stressful going in at half time. We had a good chat in the changing room about the mentality going into the second half and going after it and leaving it all out there."
UBC got out in front early when Norman played the ball inside for Gibson to finish from just outside the six yard box in ninth minute.
UNBC goalkeeper Johanna Rathke superbly turned away a Norman free kick two minutes later, but despite all their possession and pressure, the home side just couldn't add to their tally.
Keeley Read brought a save out of
Marilena Spagnolo in a rare foray forward for the Timberwolves in the 20th minute, before Rathke was quick off her line to deny Gibson, who was in on goal with five minutes of the half remaining.
Norman was played in superbly in the 43rd minute, but Rathke was quickly off her line again to narrow the angle and the Thunderbirds leading scorer chipped just wide of the right post.
UBC turned on the style after the restart and hit UNBC with a quick three-goal blitz in the opening nine minutes of the second half.
Norman got the scoring off and running in the 49th minute, finishing off a
Sophie Harrison pass with aplomb. Norman turned provider three minutes later, setting up
Bailey Doerksen to fire home UBC's third of the evening, and a minute after that, Norman's shot was saved by Rathke, with the rebound falling to
Hannah Bains to tuck away from close range.
Rookie of the Year contender Hanisch added to the tally in the 67th and 76th minutes, showing great composure to score her first goals of her college career, completing her hat-trick in stoppage time.
UBC now have a bye week before the Canada West playoffs get underway in two weeks' time.
