‘Birds hit the highway to face No. 2 ranked Huskies
Wealthy Lam/UBC Thunderbirds
Soccer
Jeff Sargeant (UBC Communications)
VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds handed their first check of the 2022 Canada West season with their fourth quarter comeback victory over the Alberta Golden Bears final week, however a fair larger problem awaits the blue and gold this Friday once they tackle the No. 2 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.
Due to UBC’s week one 30-21 victory, the T-Birds additionally discover themselves within the U SPORTS High Ten – showing at quantity 9 – their highest nationwide rating since 2018. However whereas the ‘Birds take pleasure of their dwelling opener efficiency, that rapidly morphed into preparation to tackle the defending Hardy Cup champion Huskies in their very own dwelling debut.
“This can be a good check, so was final week,” stated UBC Head Coach, Blake Nill, recent off his 26th victory with the T-Birds. “Alberta’s most likely essentially the most bodily workforce within the Canada West, they all the time have been. Saskatchewan could be very bodily as effectively. We’ll be on the hardest venue to win, I consider, and we’re additionally touring on a brief week. So while you mix these components, this can be a actual alternative for us to make an announcement and we’ll must be at our greatest to reap the benefits of that.”
The final time UBC and Saskatchewan met was mid-November 2021 when the host Huskies ended the T-Birds’ season with a 39-17 victory within the Hardy Cup semifinal. The Huskies have come away victorious in 4 of the final 5 battles with the ‘Birds, with UBC’s most up-to-date win a 38-37 comeback thriller within the fall of 2019 at Thunderbird Stadium.
“I do not suppose that issues,” Nill stated, assured the web page from final season has been totally turned. “The one factor that sport does inform us is that we weren’t on the degree of play Saskatchewan was. We hung in there for moments of the sport so if we are able to take the positives from that sport, that is the way it helps us. However we all know this can be a completely different UBC program, and it is a completely different Huskies program. I really feel we are able to compete bodily, we simply must exit and consider we are able to go right into a hostile atmosphere and win a soccer sport.”
U SPORTS FB High 10: @WesternMustangs 1???
@AUS_SUA | @CanadaWest | @OUAsport | @RSEQ1#ChaseTheGlory | #ViserHautEN?? https://t.co/A2llLYnT9z
FR?? https://t.co/hlfAL7C4qS pic.twitter.com/vpEvazBHde— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) September 6, 2022
Apart from their excessive nationwide rating, the Huskies have good purpose to be assured heading into their dwelling opener after a dominant 44-5 week one victory over the Calgary Dinos. Veteran quarterback Mason Nyhus had an impressive efficiency throwing for over 400 yards with 5 touchdowns and no picks. Fourth-year receiver Daniel Perry got here up with two of these landing receptions whereas six completely different receivers amassed at the least 40 yards.
It is that very potential to unfold the ball round Nill want to see extra of from his personal squad this week.
“We have got to do a greater job of distributing the soccer to all our athletes faster, allow them to make the yardage as soon as they’ve the ball. That is one thing that can occur, we’ve got just a few new guys on that offence and seeing how they slot in. It is a work in progress.”
From offence to defence, UBC’s Ryan Baker now the Sort out Maker! 10 tackles for ‘Birds linebacker in opening win! No. 9 UBC at No. 2 Sask Huskies on Friday! https://t.co/na3HgDCZ0t @ubctbirds @CoachNill @CanadaWest @USPORTS_FB @StuWalters_ @jeffthesarge @BCHighschoolFB @WindsorSec pic.twitter.com/hqjkhL6azH
— Howard Tsumura (@htsumura) September 8, 2022
Whereas Nyhus collected the week one Canada West Offensive Participant of the Week nod, rookie Thunderbird receiver Shemar McBean was in consideration after a 136 yard sport and a landing. Second-year quarterback Garrett Rooker additionally seemed to be in midseason type throwing for 251 yards and a pair of TDs together with a speeding main whereas the working again duo of Isaiah Knight and Dane Kapler managed a collective 181 yards on the bottom. Put all of it collectively, and each groups’ defences might be in for a difficult evening.
Kickoff at Griffiths Stadium is ready for six:00 p.m. PT. The sport will likely be streamed dwell on Canada West TV.
