PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds (4-0) completed the weekend sweep, and head coach
Jesse Symons made history with his 100th career conference win, following a decisive 5-0 victory over the UNBC Timberwolves (0-4) on Sunday.
Maddy Norman opened the scoring for a third straight game, while
Sophia Ferreira chipped in with a brace to lift UBC to an early lead. The squad added on a couple more while holding on defensively to keep their remarkable clean-sheet streak alive – last conceding a regular-season goal over 22 months ago.
"Another exceptional match early in the season," began UBC head coach Symons. "It's exciting to see Ferreira and
Bailey Doerksen come back so well after a year off and really lead this team right away. Maddy is continuing to find her form and is getting into such dangerous spaces. Full credit for another big weekend."
Reminiscent of Friday's match, the T-Birds wasted little time to get to work. It was just four minutes in when
Chloe Van Schalkwyk picked up the ball near the right sideline on the attack and delivered a perfectly placed cross into the box that found red-hot striker Norman. The current T-Bird scoring leader leaped and headed it home for the first goal of the game.
Shortly after, the 'Birds were eager to add another. Following a corner kick that found its way to
Jayda Thompson well outside the box, she laced one that was labelled for the top shelf, but UNBC's netminder Johanna Rathke stretched out to punch away the threat. However, the Birds kept coming. On the ensuing corner, Doerksen curled one in that found Ferreira, who connected for another header for the score, handing UBC a two-goal lead in the opening 10 minutes.
The set pieces continued to produce for the T-Birds, with another corner being awarded just five minutes later. Following the curving cross, Rathke made a brilliant save on the first attempt, but after a few redirects, the rebound found the foot of an in-close Ferreira, who rifled it just under the crossbar for her second of the match.
With the Timberwolves looking to respond, UNBC's Aimee Glasser showed off her wheels down the right side of the field. Entering the T-Birds' half, the third-year midfielder was taken down, leading to a free kick nearly 25 yards out. In prime position, UNBC's Maresha Manulak stepped up and drilled a bullet that soared just over the top left corner of the net.
After the near miss, the 'Birds continued to deal damage on the other end, peppering the Timberwolves goal only for Rathke to stand tall. The second-year netminder closed out the first half with double-digit saves, before ending the game with 15 total.
The second half started scoreless until the 67th minute, when the T-Birds delivered another successful set piece. Recent sub
Sabrina Nascimento Carreira was on the receiving end of a corner and headed it off the crossbar and in for her second of the season.
The 'Birds weren't finished as, in the dying minutes, Norman bookended this one with an in-close strike to increase her season total to five goals in the first three games while sealing a 5-0 UBC win.
"It's great to see us scoring in different ways this early in the season," mused coach Symons. "We're looking forward to building on that and opening at UBC next weekend."
The T-Birds are back in action on the Point Grey campus for the first time this campaign for their next matchup. Kickoff for the home opener is set for 5:00 p.m. PT at Ken Woods Field on Friday, September 18, where they will take on the UBC-Okanagan Heat (0-2) for a second time this month.
