VANCOUVER –The UBC Thunderbirds defeated the University of Calgary Dinos field hockey team 3-0 on Saturday to claim the first game of their weekend doubleheader. 

With Saturday's victory, the T-Birds remain third in the Canada West standings with a chance to overtake the second-place Dinos with another win on Sunday.

Despite the high stakes, the game got off to a slow start. UBC held most of the possession but was unable to make good on any chances near the goal, ending the first quarter at 0-0.

The Thunderbirds broke the stalemate in the last minutes of the first half when Mikayla Stelling broke through the Dinos' defence and placed the ball perfectly into the opposing goal.

Fueled by their first goal, the 'Birds entered the second half with confidence and pace. In the 42nd minute, Danielle McBean found the net for UBC's second. The Dinos got close to putting up points on the board with back-to-back short corners but could not convert. 

With just minutes left in the game, Kenzie Girgis scored in a penalty corner sequence to cushion UBC's lead to 3-0.

Both teams return to Wright Field on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. MT.

SCORING SUMMARY
UBC – Mikayla Stelling, FG, 24', 1-0 UBC
UBC – Danielle McBean, FG, 42', 2-0 UBC
UBC – Kenzie Girgis, PC, 58', 3-0 UBC

GOALKEEPERS
UBC – Hannah Rumble, 60 MP, 0 GA
CGY – Alana Madrid, 60 MP, 3 GA

CARDS
UBC – Kaitlyn Pennefather, GC, 26'
UBC – Sanehpreet Basra, GC, 57'