For Men's Soccer, staying perfect didn't come easy this time.
The nation's top-ranked team entered Friday night's matchup against the UFV Cascades having won each of its first four games by a combined score of 11–0, winning their most recent game 5-0 against the UBC Okanagan Heat. They had also already beaten the Cascades, coming out on top in the season opener 2–0. For the opening 45 minutes against the Cascades, it looked like it would be more of the same.
UBC built a two-goal lead early, completely controlling the opening half at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford. But the Cascades came out looking like a different team after the break, scoring twice to erase the deficit for the Thunderbirds' biggest challenge of the season so far.
Then, with the threat of dropping points for the first time this year becoming increasingly real, Luke Norman made other plans.
The UBC midfielder scored in the 84th minute to give the Thunderbirds a 3–2 victory and keep their perfect start alive. The win boosted the 'Birds to 5–0, with them being the only team in the Pacific Division without a loss thus far.
It was not the dominant performance UBC had become accustomed to during its unbeaten start. But for the first time this season, the Thunderbirds were forced to respond to adversity — and they did exactly that.
The first half began like many of UBC's previous games. The Thunderbirds took control early, quickly testing UFV goalkeeper Matheus De Souza. Off a UBC corner in the 10th minute, the 'Birds found the breakthrough just one minute later through star defender Eric Lajeunesse.
Markus Rukavina was instrumental in the build-up to the opener. After Nicolas Nadeau’s corner looked like it would roll out untouched, Rukavina chased it down and kept the ball in the field of play. He quickly played it back into the penalty area, finding Lajeunesse in position to finish from close range. The goal gave UBC an early 1–0 lead, and the Thunderbirds were far from finished.
Markus Rukavina (#27) was an important part of UBC's early offence, setting up both of the T-Birds' first-half goals.
Five minutes later, Rukavina was involved again. This time, he found Henri Godbout, the 2024 Canada West Rookie of the Year, who took matters into his own hands. This was only Godbout's second game back in the starting lineup after missing the team's first few games due to an injury. While the T-Birds' offence still worked well without him, getting back their top scorer from a year ago is a massive boost. This time, the Seattle native collected the ball just inside the Cascades’ half, surged toward the UFV net and fired a shot from outside the penalty area.
Just like that, the Thunderbirds were ahead 2–0.
Rukavina's two assists continued an impressive stretch for the UBC attacker, giving him four helpers in his last two games. More importantly, his contributions helped put the Thunderbirds in a position that looked comfortable heading into halftime, with UFV barely having time to threaten them.
While the Cascades managed one corner in the opening half, they did not record a shot attempt. Meanwhile, the 'Birds had eight shots, including both goals. Norman was denied four times before the break, and Oliver Herbert also forced a save. In the final moments of the half, Eric Kim had an attempt stopped by the UFV defence.
The T-Birds were dominant in the first half, forcing UFV's Matheus De Souza to stand on his head in net, making six saves on eight shots.
On paper, the game appeared relatively straightforward. Then the second half began.
UFV came out with far more urgency, immediately flipping the script. Just under three minutes after the restart, the Cascades found their first shot attempt of the night — and they made it count. Spencer Mellett set up Ryan Torresan inside the box, and Torresan finished to pull UFV within one. The goal was significant for more than just the scoreline.
For the first time this year, the Thunderbirds had been scored on.
The goal appeared to galvanize the home team. UFV began applying pressure and creating opportunities, while the previously dominant Thunderbirds suddenly found themselves defending their lead.
Mellett sent a shot high in the 51st minute as the Cascades continued to push forward. Aidan Fitzgerald put Roko Vukic to the test after winning the ball, but the UBC goalkeeper denied his effort. Vukic was forced to make another save just two minutes later, this time keeping out a shot from Bhagvir Sidhu.
UFV had completely changed the complexion of the match with their renewed attack. Their pressure was rewarded in the 73rd minute, as Michael Beecroft finished off an opportunity created by Marcus D'Andrea to bring UFV level at 2–2.
The Cascades came storming back in the second half, drawing even with the T-Birds in the 73rd minute, threatening UBC's perfect season.
A game that had seemed decided at halftime was suddenly wide open. The Thunderbirds had gone from controlling every aspect of the match to being at risk of dropping points for the first time this season. The Cascades had scored twice in the second half, and with momentum firmly on their side, the home team had every reason to believe they could complete their comeback.
UBC needed someone to step up — and that someone was Norman.
The forward had already been one of the Thunderbirds' most active players throughout the match, recording four shots in the first half. He had repeatedly been denied by De Souza, but with just over six minutes remaining, Norman finally found the breakthrough UBC desperately needed.
Max Comsia set him up inside the attacking area, and Norman made no mistake. After creating space for himself, he sent his shot past De Souza to restore the Thunderbirds' lead.
It was the kind of moment the game had been waiting for. After watching its two-goal advantage disappear, UBC responded with a goal of its own. Norman's marker changed everything, putting the Thunderbirds back in front with little time remaining for the Cascades to find another equalizer.
This time, the 'Birds would not let their lead slip away, creating chances after going ahead, with Sebastian Agerskov forcing another save from De Souza in the 87th minute. UFV continued searching for one final opportunity, but Vukic and the Thunderbirds' defence held firm.
In a last, desperate attempt to push for a draw, even UFV goalkeeper De Souza came forward in the dying moments, recording a shot that was saved by Vukic as the Cascades threw everything they could forward.
Those efforts were for naught. When the final whistle sounded, UBC had survived its biggest scare of the season.
The Thunderbirds had been in complete control for one half and then forced to fight for their lives in the second. UFV had shown exactly why no game can be taken for granted, particularly when — being the No. 1 ranked program in the country with a five-game winning streak — there's a massive target on your back.
For the Cascades, the result will be a difficult one to accept. UFV was without reigning U Sports Player of the Year Mateo Brazinha and defender Ebi Igali, both of whom were unavailable after receiving red cards in the team's previous match. Despite those absences, the Cascades responded to a difficult first half with one of their strongest stretches of the season.
For more than 10 minutes after Beecroft's equalizer, it looked possible that UFV might leave Rotary Stadium with at least one point, but Norman changed that.
In the end, it was UBC's first-half performance that carried them. The Thunderbirds finished with 13 shots, but eight of them came in the opening 45. Once UFV found its footing in the second half, the Cascades outshot the T-Birds 9–5. De Souza made 10 saves — six in the first half — in a busy performance, repeatedly keeping the Cascades within striking distance before the second-half comeback. At the other end, Vukic was rarely tested in the first half.
It was an impressive performance from the Cascades, especially given that they were without their best player, Mateo Brazinha, who missed the game due to a prior red card.
The second half was a different story. As the Cascades increased the pressure, they forced Vukic into several important saves as the momentum shifted, with UBC's keeper stopping four shots.
There is something to be said about winning when things do not go according to plan. UBC has already shown it can dominate opponents through its first four games. Friday offered a different test. The Thunderbirds lost a two-goal lead, conceded for the first time all season and found themselves in a tied game late in the second half. They still found a way to win.
For a team ranked No. 1 in U Sports, expectations are always going to be high. Dominant victories may make up much of the season, but championship-calibre teams are defined by what happens when a game becomes difficult. On Friday night in Abbotsford, the Thunderbirds got their first real taste of adversity — and thanks to Norman's late winner, they remain perfect. UBC will now have the opportunity to improve to 6–0 on Sunday, when they travel north to face the UNBC Timberwolves in Prince George.
The Thunderbirds may have escaped with a scare, but the result was the only thing that matters. Five games. Five wins.
The perfect start is still alive.
