Mark Village shuts out UBC T Birds, 1-0
First Canada West victory against TBirds in school history
Vancouver, BC…The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades defeated the CIS number one ranked UBC Thunderbirds, 1-0, at David Sidoo Field on the campus of UBC, ending their 27 game unbeaten streak in Canada West and the CIS. The last UBC regular or post season loss came on November 6th, 2011. The victory also ended the Cascades 14 match losing streak against the TBirds. Today’s victory was UFV’s first result against their Point Grey rivals since joining Canada West.
The Cascades came out strong and played arguably the best game in the eight year history of their alliance with Canada West. Facing the defending CIS National Champions and number one ranked program in the current CIS top ten, UFV played a complete game today from opening whistle to closing. “The guys followed the game plan and did everything Tom (Lowdnes) and I asked of them,” commented a very happy head coach Alan Errington. The Cascades shut down the most explosive offense in Canada West on Sunday afternoon not allowing their very talented strikers to break through the Cascade back line and take point blank shots at goalkeeper Mark Village, Abbotsford, BC.
Led by the Cascades “player of the match” Connor MacMillan, Chilliwack, BC UFV recorded 30 tackles in the first half alone and even more blocks as every time UBC went to shoot the ball a Cascade player ran right through their shot. MacMillan stopped at least ten UBC shots alone as the Cascades back seven would not bend or break on this Sunday afternoon. It was apparent something special was going on when UFV kept possession of the ball during key times in the match. The passing in the back was brilliant and veteran defender Ravi Singh, Abbotsford, BC stepped up and made several clearing attempts when it appear UBC found their way into the Cascades box.
Ravi Singh shut the door today on UBC’s powerful offense.
On offense MacMillan, James Najman, Coquitlam, BC and Dalibor Plavsic, Coquitlam, BC were causing all kinds of trouble for the UBC defense, relentless all afternoon the trio never stopped penetrating the T Birds defense and creating offensive opportunities for UFV. The Cascades would hit a cross bar in the first half and one in the second half before making one last run at the winning goal with three minutes remaining. Plavsic and Justin Sekhon, Abbotsford, BC brought the ball up the right side of the field and created several scoring chances in front of Ante Boskovic, Richmond, BC before the ball was deflected to the left side of the UBC net where MacMillan made no mistake as he riffled home the winning goal.
Village stood on his head when needed making five saves all on shots that were taken from long range and kept the defense on their toes the entire afternoon. “A complete team victory, I cannot be more proud of the team then I am right now,” said Errington. By virtue of the University of Victoria Vikes 4-0 victory over the TWU Spartans, today, UFV is in a four-way tie for first place in the Pacific Division of Canada West with Victoria, TWU and UBC all with three team points.
The Cascades go on the road to face Winnipeg and Mount Royal as Canada West action resumes next weekend.
UFV 0 1 = 1
UBC 0 0 = 0
Scoring:
UFV: 87th Minute C MacMillan (Unassisted)
Goalkeeping:
UFV: Village (W) Shutout, 5 saves
UBC: Boskovic (L) 8 saves
Cascades Notes:
-First Canada West regular season victory over UBC T Birds snapping 0-14 streak
-First UBC regular or post season loss since November 6, 2011
-First shutout against UBC since joining Canada West 8 years ago
-First time Cascades are in a share for first place since the Pacific Division as formed two years ago
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