VANCOUVER – The number one nationally ranked UBC Thunderbirds are one win away from securing another Canada West Women's Soccer championship following a dominant 4-0 victory over the Calgary Dinos at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday evening, getting some revenge against the only team to hand them a loss this season in the process.

Katalin Tolnai set UBC on their way just 58 seconds in and there was no looking back for the 'Birds after that. Tolnai completed her second consecutive first half hat-trick within the first 17 minutes of the match, with Danielle Steer's penalty giving the hosts a four goal lead at the half that they didn't give up.
 
"They're a very good program and we've had some big games with them," UBC head coach Jesse Symons said after the match. "They've beaten us in the semis a few years ago, they've beaten us in the Canada West final, we've beaten them at nationals. They beat us this year, so it's back and forth. They're a very good program, very well coached, well organised, good players. To step on them early that way, you couldn't have written it better for us."
  
UBC's identity this season has been to get on the front foot early and get that first goal, and although Calgary pressed the Thunderbirds from the first kick, they quickly got into their rhythm and Tolnai fired a Nisa Reehal cut back low past Calgary keeper Caley Leask from 20 yards out to give them the lead after just 58 seconds.
 
Tolnai doubled UBC's lead in the 12th from close rang and completed the hat-trick five minutes later. Steer then drew and converted her penalty in the 21st in what proved to be the final goal of the game.

After being under the cosh for much of the match, Calgary started to get a foothold on the game and finished the half on the front foot, with Jayden Berg cracking a low curler off the left post in the 41st minute.
 
The second half was a far more even affair, with the Dinos in the ascendency for much of it, creating a number of chances and shots but only really forcing the one save out of Sarah Johns in the UBC goal. As such, the Thunderbirds advanced to Saturday night's gold-medal match where they'll face the winner of the second semi-final between the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack and Trinity Western Spartans.
  
Calgary still have a shot at next week's U SPORTS nationals and will face a do or die bronze-medal match up on Saturday evening against the loser of Friday night's other semifinal.
 
Kickoff for the Canada West bronze game is set for 5:00 p.m. PT at Thunderbird Stadium while the T-Birds will look to clinch their first conference banner since 2016 in the gold medal match which begins at 8:00 p.m. PT. Both will be streamed live on Canada West TV.

-UC-