VANCOUVER – After a strong start to the year with four road wins, the No. 1-ranked UBC Thunderbirds (4-0-0) season continues this weekend with a pair of contests on the Point Grey campus.
Kicking off the two-game series on home soil is a rematch against a familiar foe in the UBC-Okanagan Heat (0-0-2) on Friday, September 18, at Ken Woods Field, before suiting up again 24 hours later at Thunderbird Stadium to take on their Vancouver Island rival in the University of Victoria Vikes (0-0-2).
The T-Birds will look to keep their perfect season intact, while head coach
Jesse Symons will aim to build on his history-making win after their last game against the UNBC Timberwolves. In that match, not only did coach Symons secure his 100th career Canada West win, but the reigning three-time Canada West Coach of the Year became the fastest to do so in conference history.
"It has been a great 10 years with UBC, and I feel very grateful for coaching and working with so many top players throughout my time so far," reflected coach Symons on etching his name in the history books by increasing his conference record to 100-13-15 all-time.
Yet, Symons humbly shifted the focus to his squad on the pitch rather than himself on the sidelines.
"The momentum of the program has really progressed since we won the national championship in 2019, and seeing the team be so consistent with results since has been something that has not even seemed possible. Having the top four records in the league all time since 1987 over the past four seasons has been remarkable with what the players and staff have accomplished."
After another sound start to a season, the blue and gold will fight to keep their unbelievable clean sheet streak alive this weekend. Following four straight shutouts, the last time the 'Birds conceded a regular-season goal was during the 2024-2025 campaign, when they earned a 6-1 win over the University of Fraser Valley Cascades in October of 2024.
Not only have they been winning these games to start the year, they've also done so convincingly. Throughout, the 'Birds have outscored their opponents 15-0, marking the best start to a Canada West campaign since the opening of the 2022-2023 season
– where they went on to claim the eighth U SPORTS National Championship in program history.
Looking to lead the 'Birds to new heights, while eying a third national championship in the last four years, has been the sizzling striker
Maddy Norman. The third-year Surrey native has racked up five goals and three assists in her squad's first four games, earning her BioSteel Player of the Week honours after the first two games of the season.
Not far behind is the duo who have returned to the pitch after a year off due to injury –
Bailey Doerksen, who has posted two goals and three assists, and
Sophia Ferreira, who's added a pair of goals to start the season.
Jayda Thompson is tied for third in team scoring, tallying a goal and two assists. The fifth-year forward found the back of the net to start the season opener – when the team went toe-to-toe with this weekend's counterpart, the UBCO Heat. Despite earning a heavy-handed 3-0 win in that one, coach Symons isn't heading into this matchup lightly.
"Every team offers different issues we need to plan and prepare for, which makes our division so difficult. Playing UBCO for the second time will be a challenge after their bye weekend, and UVic has shown a very competitive start with their matches over the past weekend."
The UBC Thunderbirds will hit the pitch at Ken Woods Field on Friday, September 18 to jumpstart their weekend against the UBCO Heat, with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m. They'll then follow up at Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday, September 19 at 5:00 p.m. against the Vikes. You can keep up with the action here, on
CanadaWest.tv.
"We are continuing to become more consistent in all areas of the game. We are very excited to get home and play in front of our fans, friends and family. It will be very exciting to continue our journey with a few matches at home."
