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\n The \u2018Birds celebrate after a goal. UBC kept their dominant season alive against MRU, with dreams of a three-peat still alive by booking their ticket to nationals. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a team, we love to take each game one game at a time,\u201d said UBC forward Maddy Norman. \u201cFrom the beginning of the season till now, we’ve just grown so much, from the back of the field all the way up to the front.”<\/p>\n
In their quarterfinal game, UBC came out on top after a tight battle against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies \u2014 a 1\u20130 win, as the T-Birds struggled to connect on offence. As they turned to face MRU, it was clear they had to show a much-improved game and step things up a notch.<\/p>\n
The Cougars, on the other hand, faced off against the UBC Okanagan Heat in their quarterfinal matchup, walking away with a 2\u20130 victory. Their late offensive payoff in the 77th and 88th minutes allowed them to earn the win and make it to the next round.<\/p>\n
Because of their stellar regular season, UBC hosted the Canada West Final Four, with both semifinals and the final being played at Ken Woods Field. With no upsets in the post-season, perhaps unsurprisingly, the top two teams in both divisions made it into the semifinals.<\/p>\n
UBC, after going 14\u20130 in the regular season, landed at the top of the Pacific Division. MRU also had a good season, finishing with a solid 10\u20133\u20131 record. Despite that, Mount Royal was not able to secure the top spot in the Prairie Division, coming in second to their in-city rivals, the University of Calgary Dinos. This game marked MRU women\u2019s soccer\u2019s first time in program history to be in the Canada West Final Four, and although they did not make it any farther than the semifinals, they put up quite the fight.<\/p>\n
Notably, before the Final Four kicked off, Canada West announced their major awards for the season \u2014 which UBC dominated. Sophie Harrison, a first-year defender, was named rookie of the year, Ella Sunde, a fourth-year, was named defender of the year, and Symons, for the third year in a row, was named coach of the year. Not to be left out, MRU earned their own nod, as third-year forward Tamara Djurisic was named player of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels amazing \u2026 I got quite a [few] points this season, and that’s all because of my teammates,\u201d said Sunde. \u201cThe coaches, they have to vote you in, so it feels good to get that. Especially since I’m graduating this year. It’s a nice farewell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSunde has been an amazing player for us from the beginning, leading our team as a captain this year \u2026 and I was really proud of her for getting that award,\u201d said Symons. \u201cWe’ve got it now three years in a row \u2026 It’s something we really live by, and hopefully that continues in the future for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Building off the positive momentum from their Canada West awards, right from the first whistle, the Thunderbirds were fired up, as they looked to come out stronger offensively than their last game against Saskatchewan. Less than a minute in, Sienna Gibson immediately took advantage of open space to take the ball into the middle, and with a great touch, got the ball to Norman, who fired a shot just wide. UBC\u2019s vicious attack had already started.<\/p>\n
Yet while the UBC offence started quickly, so did MRU. The Cougars tested \u2018Birds keeper Dakota Beckett and the T-Birds\u2019 defence early, with the Cougars looking to keep up with UBC and make it a battle. Both teams are incredibly strong offensively, both ranking in the top 15 countrywide in goals. Looking to showcase their talents, after MRU earned a free kick in close range, Gabrielle Linford took a shot towards the \u2018Birds\u2019 goal, but Beckett was ready in net, surging forward to block the ball and hit it out of the box.<\/p>\n
The Thunderbirds started to hold possession as the first half went on. Continuing their high press, they kept most of the action in the Cougars\u2019 end, recycling the ball as they looked to connect.<\/p>\n
Gibson once again set up her teammates in front of the net, with a great ball just outside the box. Harrison raced to it as MRU\u2019s keeper Ella Filek also surged forward to challenge, diving on the ball right as Harrison got to it, taking her down.<\/p>\n
\n UBC midfielder Taiya Dennehy runs after the ball. While the T-Birds couldn\u2019t capitalize on their chances early, the sustained offence pressure represented an improvement from their quarterfinal game against Saskatchewan. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n Because of her collision with Harrison, Filek earned a yellow card and UBC had another free kick in close range. Gibson stepped up to take the free kick and played the ball short to Harrison again. Harrison tried to get the shot off, but the Cougars\u2019 defence quickly closed in to block the ball, being cleared out to Taiya Dennehy, as the T-Birds once again could not find the net off a chance from up close.<\/p>\n Near the end of the first half, MRU got a few shots on net, hoping to take a lead before halftime. Getting the ball in the corner just outside UBC\u2019s box, Mount Royal\u2019s Madeleine Albert launched a well-placed ball in front of the net. As the \u2018Birds struggled to clear it, the ball bounced around in a dangerous area before Djurisic got a foot on it \u2014 forcing a save by Beckett, who dove to stop it. Right after, the Cougars got another ball into the box, but this time it was headed high for an easy save.<\/p>\n With only a few minutes left in the first half and the game still scoreless, it would be the Thunderbirds to finally connect and take the lead. Gibson, who had been a great playmaker in the midfield all game, placed a beautiful ball to find Norman attacking the net. Norman played it smartly, making the extra touch over to Ava Alexander in the box for the tap-in \u2014 a beautiful scoring play by UBC to get their first point on the board. The precise way the T-Birds worked in concert for that goal showcased their team\u2019s chemistry \u2014 knowing where to be on the field and how to set up their teammates.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ve learned so much about one another, where we want the ball, kind of how to work together,\u201d said Norman. \u201cI can always trust Ava to put the ball in the back of the net. So as soon as I saw her making that run, I just knew right away to play it to her.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Ava Alexander scores a goal. The T-Birds, as one of the top-scoring offences in the country, had no issues taking the lead against Mount Royal. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n By taking a 1\u20130 lead into the half, the T-Birds offence was already much improved from their showing against Saskatchewan, where they were unable to find the net until well into the second half. However, this didn\u2019t mean they were out of the woods. MRU was keeping themselves in it, sticking with their offence, matching UBC\u2019s pressure and attack \u2014 with both teams taking 5 shots in the first half. It was still a tight game.<\/p>\n But not for long. UBC kept the momentum going to start the second half off strong, coming out on fire after their end-of-half goal, quickly earning their second goal of the match in the first five minutes of the second half.<\/p>\n Dennehy took the ball forward for the T-Birds, starting the attack by passing it to Sunde. Sunde raced to the net, but could not quite hold on to it \u2014 The ball went to MRU, as Filek played it short to their defender. However, as the ball rolled to the MRU player, Alexander flew in to challenge, managing to knock the ball away from them. UBC\u2019s Sofia Peckenpaugh \u2014 who had just subbed on at half \u2014 saw their chance to jump on the open ball. With a great touch, she set up Holly Whelan at the top of the box, who fired a beautiful shot over the keeper to put UBC up 2\u20130.<\/p>\n This was the second game in a row that a player who subbed on at half quickly made a difference for the \u2018Birds. The T-Birds bench is incredibly strong, and having proven themselves throughout the season in every opportunity they\u2019ve had. Every player on the team that comes onto the field gives it their all, as anyone can step up and be the game-changer the team needs at any moment.<\/p>\n \n Sofia Peckenpaugh goes for the ball. Peckenpaugh is part of a strong T-Birds bench \u2014 being a major contributor against MRU. Sidney Shaw \/ The Ubyssey\n<\/p>\n As the second half continued, UBC did not slow down \u2014 on both sides of the pitch. Applying pressure to the Cougars as soon as they had the ball, Peckenpaugh hustled to sneak in and steal the ball from a MRU defender, passing it over to Alexander. While she managed to fire off a shot, the ball was saved by Filek.<\/p>\n Nearing the end of the second half \u2014 the Cougars managed the impossible. As they held possession, looking to strike against UBC, Cougars defender Isabella Chirico got the ball, and as MRU played it back, she fired a long ball right into the box. Djurisic surged in with UBC defender Heike Clarke on her hip, and as Beckett came to challenge, Djurisic was able to get a header on it to connect and find the back of the net. UBC\u2019s streak of 22 consecutive shutout victories was over.<\/p>\n Realistically, someone was going to eventually score on the Thunderbirds \u2014 and who else but the Canada West player of the year \u2014 one of the top offensive players all season \u2014 to finally manage the impossible. Djurisic racked up the stats this season, co-leading conference in scoring with nine goals and setting the program record for most goals in a single season. She also became the program\u2019s all-time leading scorer and led MRU\u2019s offence in all major statistical categories.<\/p>\n After letting in a goal for the first time in more than a year, UBC strengthened their defence for the rest of the second half. They held firm as the play went back and forth between both teams \u2014 keeping the Cougars at bay, not allowing them to gain momentum after the rare goal against. The Thunderbirds did not allow a single shot by MRU after the goal, closing out the game with a 2\u20131 win.<\/p>\n \u201c[MRU] really wanted it, and they played really well. They have such great threatening players who can break us in behind,\u201d said Sunde. \u201cI was really proud with how the team defended and how we pressed … we got to [it] and we held on to it, and we didn’t stop all the way down to the final minute.\u201d<\/p>\n Although it likely stung to have lost their clean sheet streak, the T-Birds can still boast that they did not allow a single goal in the regular season. The win itself also certainly made up for the lost streak, as UBC officially punched their ticket to nationals, the goal they had been working toward all season. But before they head to Hamilton for the U Sports championship, they still have one more game to play \u2014 the Canada West finals.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s really exciting to be going back to Nationals again \u2026 and that feeling just really gives us a lot of energy for even the Can[ada] West final tomorrow,\u201d said Norman.<\/p>\n \u201cCan[ada] West championships are important. It’s a privilege to be in the game, and we’re really excited to be, obviously going to nationals, but more so competing for a Canada West banner in our conference, because it’s so strong,\u201d said Symons.<\/p>\n In the other Canada West semifinal, the Trinity Western University Spartans played the University of Calgary Dinos, earning their own spot in the final after a tough battle against Calgary, ending with the Spartans beating Calgary 3\u20132 on penalties after a scoreless game. While the T-Birds have beaten the Spartans twice already this season, both were tight, highly contested games, with UBC squeaking out a 1\u20130 victory both times. In order to secure their 18th Canada West title, UBC will have to beat Trinity Western one more time.<\/p>\n \u201cCanada West finals, we’re ready to go,\u201d said Sunde. \u201cWe’ll get a good night’s sleep tonight, and then just be so ready tomorrow and come out flying.\u201d<\/p>\n First online Nov. 10, 2025, midnight<\/p>\n Share this article <\/p>\n copied!<\/a> <\/a> \n Submit a complaint<\/a>
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\n Report a correction<\/a>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After a surprisingly close quarterfinal against Saskatchewan UBC women\u2019s soccer beat the Mount Royal University (MRU) Cougars 2\u20131…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273798,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[440],"tags":[49,48,561,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-273797","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-soccer","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}