Tolnai stays sizzling as T-Birds defeat defending champs
VANCOUVER – Katalin Tolnai’s outstanding play continued Saturday as she scored each UBC targets in a 2-1 victory over the visiting MacEwan Griffins at Thunderbird Stadium.
The Canada West’s main scorer tallied twice within the opening half and now has seven targets in her final three video games whereas the Thunderbirds enhance to an ideal 5-0 on the season whereas the Griffins fall to 2-2.
“I believe we confirmed our class at the moment and bought a good outcome,” mentioned UBC Head Coach, Jesse Symons who has guided his squad to a 5-0 begin for the second straight season. “They bought behind us as soon as and tried to push momentum however I assumed total our group had plenty of high quality. General, a six level weekend once more and we’ll prepare to move to Winnipeg.”
The T-Birds poured it on early and sometimes with a number of high quality possibilities earlier than the sport entered the fifth minute. MacEwan keeper Breanna Truscott was compelled to make a pair of grade ‘A’ saves off Tolnai and Sophie Damian in fast succession to maintain the sport scoreless.
UBC’s relentless pursuit paid off within the 10th minute when Tolnai scored her league main sixth of the season from the highest of the 18-yard space. Nisa Reehal performed the ball off Truscott who had come out to problem. It then bounced proper to Tolnai who rapidly turned and fired a wonderfully positioned strike over Truscott’s head, just below the crossbar.
The defending U SPORTS champion Griffins responded within the 30th minute to get the sport stage. Maya Morrell performed an ideal by ball from midfield as much as Alyx Henderson who turned on the jets to just accept the move behind UBC’s defenders. Sarah Johns got here out to problem however Henderson took a low shot and tucked it into the far aspect of the web, her second purpose of the 12 months and UBC’s first conceded purpose of the season.
? WSOC | T-Birds Aim!! Katalin Tolnai from the highest of the 18-yard field with the fast flip and excellent strike for her sixth of the season offers @ubcwsoc an early 1-0 lead #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/OOZ7AKeLp9
— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) September 11, 2022
“I knew that our shutout streak would finish one in all today,” admitted Symons facetiously. “Sadly it ended on a transition second we most likely might have been higher with, however after that I assumed we shut the door fairly effectively.”
Earlier than the half was out, the T-Birds regained the lead as Tolnai’s torrid tempo solely picked up extra steam as she secured her second purpose of the sport within the 42nd minute. Receiving a cross from Reehal, Tolnai chipped it in from 14 yards out, off the crossbar as UBC carried a 2-1 lead into the break on what turned out to be the sport winner.
? WSOC | T-Birds Aim!! Tolnai does it once more, her second of the sport and seventh (!) of the season, off the crossbar as @ubcwsoc re-take the lead, 2-1 late within the half #GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/GeBCvu86XB
— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) September 11, 2022
“I believe Kat has the potential together with Danielle (Steer), to be among the finest gamers within the nation. Kat proper now could be stepping into superb areas and she or he’s very assured along with her turning and going through ahead. We have requested her to dribble a bit extra and get to the purpose, she has that high quality and she or he’s certain displaying it.”
UBC was awarded a penalty within the 49th minute after a handball was referred to as on the Griffins within the field off a T-Birds free kick. Danielle Steer stepped on top of things in a bid to extend UBC’s result in two, however Truscott learn it effectively and bought in entrance of it with a essential save to maintain it a one purpose recreation.
Johns completed the sport with 5 saves whereas choosing up her Canada West main fifth win.
The Griffins are again dwelling in Edmonton subsequent weekend to host the UNBC Timberwolves Saturday adopted by a go to from the Calgary Dinos Sunday.
The primary ranked T-Birds hit the street to Winnipeg the place they will battle the Manitoba Bisons Saturday and the Winnipeg Wesmen Sunday seeking to preserve their unbeaten streak intact.
