Box Score
Three goals in the opening 12 minutes was all the visiting UBC Thunderbirds needed as they took a 3-0 victory over the University of Regina in Canada West women's soccer action on Saturday afternoon.
Taylor Shannik, Kym van Duynhoven, and Jasmin Dhanda all scored for No. 6-ranked UBC (2-0-2) in the opening minutes of the contest, while goalkeeper Emily Wilson made her first start of the season for the Thunderbirds and was credited with the shutout.
The Cougars fall to 2-2-0 with the loss.
UBC had a sustained wind of 40 km/h out of the south at their backs in the first half, and the Thunderbirds took full advantage of it early. Shannik's goal came directly off a corner kick in the fifth minute. The third-year midfielder bent a high ball into the box and the wind did the rest, as Shannik's corner found the far side of the net to give UBC an early lead.
Shannik was in on the second goal as well, which came just three minutes later. She led fifth-year striker Janine Frazao with a ball to the right side of the Cougar net, and Frazao found van Duynhoven unmarked at the top of the box. van Duynhoven made no mistake, finding the mesh to notch her first of the Canada West season.
And UBC wasn't done there, as rookie forward Jasmin Dhanda scored her first career goal with a shot to the top corner from the left side of the 18-yard box which extended the Thunderbirds' lead to three. Dhanda also had an opportunity to stretch UBC's lead to four just before halftime, but Cougar keeper
Kacey McFee came up with what was likely the best of her six saves.
The U of R's best chances to score came with the heavy wind at their backs early in the second half. Halftime substitute
Cassidy Andres had a fine opportunity in the 51st minute but sent the shot just past the right post, and just six minutes later
Meagan Cormier forced a turnover in UBC territory and fired a shot that sailed just over the bar.
The Cougars will host No. 3-ranked Trinity Western (1-1-2) on Sunday at noon, while UBC will make the short trip north to square off with Saskatchewan.
