UBC women’s soccer’s regular season has come to a close, as the T-Birds took care of business against the University of Victoria Vikes, picking up a solid 3–0 win in Thunderbird Stadium. With that win, UBC secured a second straight perfect regular season — 14 wins, zero losses, zero draws.
This is the second time in Canada West this century this has been accomplished — with the only other time being UBC, last year. The two other perfect seasons in Canada West were both accomplished by the ‘Birds — a ten-win season in 1994-95 and a two-win season in 1983-84 — but both those teams faced shorter schedules than this current group.
These ‘Birds have something none of those prior teams have though — completing their season having not been scored on once. Every game ended in a shutout victory for the T-Birds, scoring 42 goals while allowing zero.
Getting to end their historic regular season at home gave UBC the chance to finish on a heartwarming note — their senior night. In front of an energetic crowd of family and friends, the ‘Birds honoured the incredible senior players on the team; Emily Parker, Ava Alexander, Dakota Beckett, Ella Sunde, Sophia Ferreira and Sydney Slater.
“The senior players mean so much. They've really built a positive culture and mindset to compete and play at a high level and be consistent,” said head coach Jesse Symons. “Overall, they're an impressive bunch, and I've been so proud of them all season.”
“The team has been such a family … and the Thunderbird community as a whole is just so amazing,” said Alexander. “I'm so grateful to have been part of it the last five years.”
This game was the second of a back-to-back, as UVic and UBC had just faced the day before, where the Thunderbirds dominated in a 4–0 win. In that impressive performance, the ‘Birds got off to an early start, giving no chance for the Vikes to catch up as UBC showed off their offensive prowess.
It was a similar story in the second matchup. Right off the kickoff, the T-Birds were immediately off to the races, starting the game by pushing their offensive attack. Before even five minutes passed, Sophie Harrison got the ball off to Alexander right outside the box — who launched it for a beautiful top corner shot, giving UBC an even earlier lead than their last game, going up 1–0.
Less than 10 minutes later, the Vikes managed to make their way onto the board for the first time this weekend — but in a way no team ever wants. With Alexander again pressing forward with the ball, she went to cross it, but as a Victoria defender tried to clear it, they deflected the ball into the net for an own goal. As has been proven this season, UBC is a team that needs no help on offence — a devastating mistake for UVic to put the ‘Birds up 2–0 in the game.
UVic didn’t let that mistake stop them, however, as they started to slightly turn things around in their favour as they forced some action into UBC’s end of the field. The Vikes pressure earned them a corner they were able to place right into the box. Both teams struggled to gain control of the ball, as it was swallowed up dangerously close to the goal line. Despite the chance close to UBC’s goal, the T-Birds would not let Victoria connect, as Beckett was the one to gain control — capping a strong defensive play by UBC.
The Vikes hold of possession and push on offence would not last for long, as nearing the end of their first half, the Thunderbirds earned their third goal, as Alexander once again scored off an assist by Harrison.
Alexander has had a truly prolific performance on offence this season, as this goal marked her eighth goal of the season, tying Sienna Gibson for the most goals on the team. Alexander, a fifth-year graduating senior, has had a long career as a Thunderbird, but this year, she has stepped into a larger role, both in terms of leadership as well as general in-game performance.
“Ava put the team on her shoulders tonight,” said Symons. “[She] had an unbelievable game.”
“We just wanted to finish off on a good note. So everybody was super motivated, and we wanted to have some fun tonight,” said Alexander.
Alexander wasn’t the only player to stand out, as Harrison, a first-year defender, had quite the strong offensive game as well. In setting up her teammates with two assists in this game, Harrison showed confidence and skill not usually seen in such a young player.
Looking to add to her multi-point game, a few minutes after the Alexander goal, Harrison took the ball up the field, holding on to possession with good ball movement. She managed to beat a Victoria defender and shoot it in the box — while a UVic defender was able to block it, but she earned UBC a corner.
Alexander and Harrison continued to show off what a great duo they made near the end of the first half. As a T-Bird corner into the box was sent wide — Harrison was able to gain control of it. She placed a beautiful ball to find Alexander in front of the net — while Alexander’s header went just wide, it was another close chance and incredible play by those two. This combination — the leadership and smarts of Alexander, a senior player, being in sync with a first-year player like Harrison, a part of the young future of the T-Birds, showcases the depth and strength of this team.
At the half, UBC was up 3–0, as they really controlled the game. This continued throughout the second half, as the Thunderbirds weren’t about to let up just before the playoffs.
In the second half, as UBC looked to find the back of the net again, Alexander was back again on the forward push. Off of Alexander’s volley touch, Gibson got the ball and quickly passed it back to Alexander, who was able to get in good position quickly.
However, when Gibson’s touch was just a little off, Emily Parker, the senior, who subbed in for the second half of play, gained control. Kicking on the speed, Parker beat multiple UVic defenders to find an opening and fire off a shot. While the Vikes goalkeeper was able to save it, Parker, who has had limited playing time this season, was able to make the minutes she got on her senior night worthwhile.
“Emily Parker … [she] hadn't played really all season, and came in for 45 and just crushed it,” said Symons.
Although UBC dominated possession and continued their sharp attack, the second-half of the game was quiet, as neither team could find the net. Both teams stepped up their defence, making great stops to cut off any forward pressure.
This was particularly clear in the 72nd minute, when UBC midfielder Taiya Dennehy — always a force on defence — made a great move to cut off a UVic player gaining momentum on defence before she could play a ball into the box or shoot.
Nearing the end of the game, the Vikes turned up the pressure and looked to end their own season on a high note, hoping to become the first team with even a single goal against UBC. UVic earned a free kick that could have been their chance, as they took a great shot barrelled straight to the net, but Beckett was right there with the save.
Once again, Beckett was tested in the net, as right after this offensive push, Victoria had another close scoring chance. Yet, as with every shot this season, nothing got past Beckett, as she earned another save.
Beckett has had an incredible season to cap off a long career with the Thunderbirds. Not only was she a major part of UBC’s clean sheet streak all season, not allowing a single goal, but with her performance in this game she broke many records, setting herself apart from all other goalkeepers in Canada West. Beckett is now the all time Canada West leader in goals against average (0.267) and save percentage (0.915). She is also now the winningest goalkeeper of all-time for the ‘Birds, with 32 regular season wins.
“You can't say enough about Dakota Beckett,” said Symons.
“It's pretty cool to break any type of record, and that one, I think, feels pretty special,” said Beckett. "It's also obviously a huge credit to the team and to my back line.”
To end the game, UBC kept possession of the ball in UVic’s end of the field. Although they were unable to score once again they were able to show their strength as a team by draining the clock and earning yet another shutout win
With their regular season officially over, UBC has done what may have seemed impossible, continuing to improve after a strong season last year. On top of their second straight undefeated season, they added again to an astounding 37-game U Sports winning streak. That streak includes two national championships, and now, heading into the playoffs, they’ll be gunning for a third.
“As a team, we just go game by game and make it hard for teams to attack us,” said Symons. “It's been our identity for the last few years, and it's paying off big time.”
“It goes to show every season we're just growing,” said Beckett. “We did pretty well last year, but we had to top that somehow, and I think we did tonight.”
Next up, the Thunderbirds turn their focus on the Canada West playoffs — their first stop on their journey back to the national championship. UBC will be hosting their quarterfinal game against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, on Saturday Oct. 25.
“This is our time, this is when we're looking to peak, this is, I think, where we thrive. It's where we've been growing to all season,” said Beckett. “We're excited to get our playoff journey rolling.”
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