Vancouver, BC – The Thunderbirds finished off their home-opening weekend in emphatic style, taking down the UNBC Timberwolves in a 3-0 victory to scoop up all six points on offer.
The crowd once again turned up today on a beautiful afternoon, the sun shining down on Thunderbird Stadium as the two teams got the game underway. Unlike Friday’s match, it was the Timberwolves that seized the initiative and generated the best chances early on.
It wasn’t long until UBC managed to wrest control back though, as the Thunderbirds gained more possession as the game went on. Soon enough, the first goal of the game was scored by Tess McRae, giving the T-Birds a 1-0 advantage in the 18th minute.
The first half would come to a close with the Thunderbirds pressing for the second goal. A couple of chances just barely missed close as the whistle blew for halftime. Brooke Molby once again stood on her head to keep the score where it was.
On the day that UBC soccer celebrated the life and legacy of Dick Mosher, it was her granddaughter Dani that spurred the blue-and-gold on in the second half. First, her foray into the box drew a penalty in the 50th minute. Danielle Steer stepped to the spot and effortlessly steered it past Molby to give UBC comfort.
Mosher wasn’t done there, as she sent a low ball into the UNBC penalty area that Steer stuck into the back of the goal. In the 54th, UBC went up by three and stayed there. They didn’t stop pressing for another and it was only thanks to brilliant keeping by Molby that the score wasn’t higher.
It wouldn’t have been a match without some drama at the end, as Emily Moore’s clean sheet was nearly spoiled as a Kiana Swift’s free-kick struck woodwork.
The game came to a close with the Thunderbirds taking a well-earned 3-0 victory over the Timberwolves. After the game, Steer was able to soak up the atmosphere after a long absence of fans. “It’s great like having our families out here for once,” she said. “It’s been a long time and I’ve just really enjoyed this weekend.”
Having had a multitude of chances throughout the game, Steer always knew that they were going to break through Molby. “It was just that final through ball, I think we just didn’t execute,” she said. “But in the end, we came through.”
Her attentions are immediately on next week’s match. “I think just building upon this momentum, you know, six points in a weekend is great, and it’s just going from there,” Steer finished.
Head coach Jesse Symons had nothing but praise for his team. “Full credit Dani Mosher, coming into today it was definitely gonna be an emotional day for her, and to set up the PK and the third goal was fantastic to see.”
It was an emotional day for the program, one that Symons was quick to acknowledge. “We wanted to come out and represent Dick, and I think he would have been proud today,” he said. “I think the girls really stepped up and had a very good performance, very clean performance and managed the game really from the start.”
The Thunderbirds are back in action next week as they travel to take on the UFV Cascades on Friday, October 1. Kick-off is set for 5:30 PM, with the action streamed on Canada West TV.