Undefeated T-Birds get bye to conference championship

UBC beats Saskatchewan, clinches berth in upcoming national soccer tournament

Weather threatened to throw everyone off their game this weekend at the Canada West’s Final Four men’s soccer championships, but the best teams find a way to stay true to their mental process, and the UBC Thunderbirds have certainly been one of those this season.

CIS No. 2-ranked UBC, 11-0-3 on the regular season, came out firing Saturday at Edmonton’s Foote Field on the campus of the University of Alberta, blanking the Saskatchewan Huskies 3-0 in a conference semifinal match that had been postponed by a day after heavy snow hit the northern city on Thursday.

The biggest victory yet in UBC’s undefeated season, the result not only sends the Birds to a spot in Sunday’s conference title game against the host and No. 4-ranked Golden Bears, it clinches a spot in the CIS national tournament beginning Thursday at Laval University.

“Being a veteran group helps and these are the kinds of things that happen sometimes,” UBC coach Mike Mosher said. “You have to deal with the adversity and roll with it.”

Now, with the Golden Bears on tap and the most immediate goal of getting to nationals already accomplished, how does Mosher feel about Sunday’s title test?

“This is the time of year you want to win games,” he said. “There is a Canada West trophy on the line tomorrow, and good teams want to win trophies. We want to do that tomorrow.”

Alberta advanced to the final after its 3-1 overtime win over Langley’s No. 6-ranked Trinity Western Spartans, a heartbreaker for the locals.

The match was scoreless heading into the 68th minute when Alberta’s Scott Gilroy scored off a penalty kick. Brayden Volkenant was able to tie the game in the 80th minute when he put home the rebound of a Spencer Schmidt free kick.

But in the extra session, Marcus Johnstone and Cameron Schmidt each scored.

Field hockey

The most tradition-laden program in Canadian university field hockey history will look to re-write history again today at the CIS nationals.

The UBC Thunder birds, the defending national champions, playing in the team’s fourth straight McRae Cup final, will attempt to win a record 14th title, as they face the host Toronto Varsity Blues in the title tilt.

UBC earned its spot in the final with a 3-1 win over Ontario’s Western Mustangs. UBC and Toronto played to a 1-1 draw in the tourney opener Thursday and the two teams have met five times in the national final where UBC holds a 3-2 edge.

Women’s soccer

The top two teams in the Canada West, based on their respective top four ranking, are headed to the CIS national championships beginning Thursday in Victoria.

Conference Rookie of the Year Krista Gommeringer scored in the 25th and 68th minutes Saturday, staking the host and No. 2-ranked Trinity Western Spartans to a 2-0 lead enroute to a 2-1 win over the No. 4 Victoria Vikes in the Canada West championship final played at Rogers Park in Langley.

Victoria’s Carsen Machin was able to make it close when she headed home a goal in the 75th minute.

Both teams had already qualified for the national tournament after winning their conference semifinal matches Friday.

TWU beat Regina 2-0, while Victoria, which was already guaranteed a spot due to its host status, got their on its own merit, going to 10 rounds of penalty kicks before topping the UBC Thunderbirds 1-0 (9-8 kicks).

Vikes’ Bijou Leavins scored the deciding goal in the shootout.

Trinity Western’s Natalie Boyd was selected the tournament MVP.