VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer team continued their winning ways this afternoon, trumping the visiting Calgary Dinos 2-0 to stretch their winning streak to three games and remain unbeaten this season with a 3-0-2 record.
After failing to convert on a number of chances in the first half, UBC took the lead in the 58th minute when substitute Sebastian Crema slotted home a low cross from eight yards out into the open net past Calgary keeper #J.P. Crescenzi#.
The home side would seal the victory in the 81st minute with co-captain Graham Smith heading home a thunderous finish off the crossbar from a Devin Gunenc corner kick.
“It was a solid performance,” said UBC coach Mike Mosher. “Credit to their goal keeper who made a number of very good saves. In some of our previous games we haven't put that much pressure on the other goalie so that was good. We just kept persevering and had no real lapses in concentration.”
UBC controlled the run of the play for most of the match, out shooting the Dinos 17-7. Crescenzi would make seven saves on the afternoon, while T-Bird goalie Srdjan Djekanvoic made two stops for his third consecutive shutout.
“The quality of the performances over the past few weeks has been good and we are very solid at the back,” said Mosher. “Allowing no goals tells the story but along the same lines we haven't really given up many chances even. I also like the fact that we are getting things from our back four coming forward. I thought Matt (Allard) and Joey (Loreth) had excellent games today and Graham came out of the back on one or two occasions and was really dangerous.”
Controlling the flow of the game from the first whistle, UBC pressed early forcing Crescenzi into making a nice diving save on a Tyson Keam back-heel just eight minutes into the contest.
Keam had a number of chances in the first 45 but was denied by the Calgary keeper on strikes in the 13th, 17th, and 37th minute. Crema replaced Keam at the half, finding the back of the net 18 minutes into the second half to break the 0-0 deadlock.
The Thunderbirds host the Lethbridge Pronghorns Sunday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. on the new turf field at Thunderbird Park.
-30-
