ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The nation's No. 1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds (3-0-0) continued their winning ways on Friday night, piling on the scores early before walking away with a 5-0 victory over the University of Fraser Valley Cascades (1-2-0) in Abbotsford.
The win improves the T-Birds' remarkable streak to 37 in a row for Canada West play across the regular season and playoffs. As well, the team has not conceded a goal in the regular season since the 2024-2025 campaign – when the Cascades scored in a 6-1 UBC victory.
Highlighting the night for the blue and gold was recently named BioSteel Player of the Week,
Maddy Norman. Seemingly a magnet for the ball throughout, the third-year forward posted a three-point night, while second-year goalkeeper
Emma Sparrow shined by collecting six saves for her second clean sheet of the season.
"What a start by the team to really jump on UFV early," mused UBC head coach
Jesse Symons. "Full credit goes to our front three today; Jayda [Thompson], Maddy [Norman] and Bailey [Doerksen] really imposed themselves on the game."
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The T-Birds wasted little time to set the tone in this one. After a throw-in bounced off a pair of players, Norman jumped on the loose ball and looked to deal damage from outside the box. After a slight dribble for better position, she quickly blasted a heat-seeking missile over the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper for an emphatic goal from distance, handing UBC an advantage in the game's opening 30 seconds.
A few minutes later, UBC looked to add on.
Jayda Thompson laced a cross from the right side that found Norman in the middle of the box. With a defender closing in, Norman one-tapped it to a nearby
Bailey Doerksen, who didn't hesitate and rifled it home to double her team's early lead.
The 'Birds continued to create chances, but UFV's defence stood tall, limiting options once UBC got in or around the box. That changed when
Zoelle Apps curled in a deep cross to the left corner of the box. Finding
Chloe Van Schalkwyk, the second-year midfielder had a beautiful first touch to create more than enough room for a strike and score.
As the half wore on, Thompson's playmaking was on full display. The fifth-year forward delivered yet another beautifully placed cross on the run, finding a wide-open Norman in the six-yard box, who leaped and headed it past the keeper for the first-half brace.
Off a throw-in shortly after, the ball found Doerksen, who delivered a silky touch pass to
Ella Santarsieri. The second-year midfielder quickly pulled the ball back to beat a defender and wired one to extend her team's lead and cap the T-Birds' scoring surge at five heading into the break.
The Cascades kept the 'Birds at bay to start the second half, and came close to snapping UBC's scoreless streak as the game approached the 70th minute. UFV collectively forced a turnover near midfield to create a chance on the counter. From there, fourth-year forward Kiana Langston led the charge and raced towards the box before cutting outside to the right, then blasted one. Aiming for the top left corner, UBC's Sparrow was forced to sprawl out, just getting a finger on it to push it wide and keep the clean sheet alive.
"Emma [Sparrow] had a great match in goal when called upon," reflected coach Symons. "And again, full credit to the team to continue building on our identity with a defensive focus."
UFV continued to press the rest of the way, even doubling UBC's shots on goal in the final 45 minutes, but couldn't break through, ending the game with a 5-0 win for the T-Birds.
For their next matchup, the UBC Thunderbirds will make the jaunt up north to Prince George, where they will take on the UNBC Timberwolves at Masich Place Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. PT.
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