Len Catling, UBC Thunderbirds

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds used a first-half goal by newcomer Victory Shumbusho and a diving stop off a penalty kick from veteran goaltender Chad Bush to upend the Fraser Valley Cascades 1-0 at Thunderbird Stadium in the Canada West season opener for both squads.
 
The Thunderbirds came out firing in the opening portion of the game, as UFV goaltender David Hicks was forced to make a diving save of UBC midfielder Zach Verhoven in the 10th minute. Verhoven had corralled a miskick by Shumbusho and fired a shot to the short side. Hicks read the play well and stuffed the attempt with both his mitts.
 
UBC got on the board in the 27th minute thanks to Shumbusho and another first-year Thunderbird, fullback Patrick Izett. Izett curled a free kick into the UFV 18-yard box from the left wing, right into the path of Shumbusho, who nodded the ball past the outstretched hands of Hicks.

"It was an amazing moment scoring that goal," said Shumbuso. "As a striker we live to score goals."

Shumbusho's new boss at UBC liked what he saw from his new player.

"What I love with Vic is his work ethic is right up there," said UBC head coach Mike Mosher. "Making those kinds of unselfish runs and efforts up top, hopefully that's going to be contagious within the group."

UFV looked poised to tie the game in the 39th minute when forward Jun Won Choi drew T-Bird defender Connor Guilherme into a foul in the penalty area. After the referee pointed to the spot, Cascade midfielder Brady Weir stepped up and drove a waist-high shot to UBC keeper Bush's right. Bush chose the correct way to dive and was able to punch the ball away from goals.

"It was difficult to see them get the penalty because they really didn't have much until that point, but Chad was huge," explained Mosher. "Chad was huge coming up with that save."

Hicks was definitely the man of the match for UFV as he made two second half stops off UBC striker Ryan Arthur. One of the saves was an acrobatic one, which saw Hicks jump and snare Arthur's shot out of mid air before it could reach the top corner of the net.

Izett, generally a midfielder or winger, was very strong throughout the game for UBC, playing outside fullback for one of the first times in his career.

"I felt pretty comfortable back there and I'm very happy with the performance," said Izett. "I think we played well collectively and it's great to get my first three points as a Thunderbird."

The Cascades finished with five shots, the Thunderbirds finished with nine. Hicks ended his strong game with three saves, while Bush made two for the Thunderbirds.

UBC stays at home to play Trinity Western at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night. The Cascades travel to Victoria to take on the UVic Vikes.

PHOTO CREDIT: Rich Lam/UBC Thunderbirds