Gideon Hill/UBC Thunderbirds

VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbird's men's soccer team extended their winning streak to start the season on Saturday night, defeating the visiting MacEwan Griffins 3-1 in a come from behind victory at Ken Woods Field. After drawing on opening night at UFV on August 31st, UBC have won their last seven, including the last four at home.

UBC head coach of Mike Mosher utilized his squad's impressive depth by making seven adjustments to his starting 11 from the previous nights 1-0 win over Mount Royal. This led to a pacey first five minutes, with rapid runs down the channels and not much possession to be had by either squad. MacEwan was able to string together some passing through the right side six minutes in, with the ball eventually finding it's way to Griffins leading scorer Everett Orgnero. He did the rest, firing an unstoppable left footed laser from 25 yards out past a sprawling Jason Roberts for an very early bright spot for the visitors and a 1-0 lead just six minutes in.

UBC had the ball for the ensuing 13 minutes, building towards MacEwan territory. A corner swung in from the left in the 19th minute found its way to Manraj Bains, whose header swung anxiously wide for the home team.

Trailing at home for the first time this season, the T-Birds continued to push the pace. In the 36th minute, Zach Verhoven picked the ball up in midfield, then sped by two on rushing Griffins' defenders, before cutting back a low ball to the feet of Nick Fussell, whose initial shot was stopped, but MacKenzie Cole found himself in a perfect spot to deposit his first of the season and a 1-1 equalizing marker.

In the 42nd minute, UBC continued to press with Kristian Yli-Hietanen running onto a through ball by Fussell but Griffins keeper Marko Vranjkovic came out to challenge which led to a heavy collision. Vranjkovic received the worst of it resulting in the MacEwan keeper laying motionless for the next few minutes as he was being tended to. With players and fans alike concerned, the first half was halted for 45 minutes before resuming when Vranjkovic, as well as teammate Kapri Simmons who sustained an injury earlier in the half were taken to the hospital.

At the half, UBC and MacEwan were tied at 1-1 with plenty to play for, after an emotional and difficult ending to the first 45.

A few changes for UBC at the half included forward Victory Shumbusho appearing for the first time this season and he sparked the home team, as UBC's pressure continued to mount. Before UBC took control of the game, MacEwan had a fantastic chance, Stefan Gajic broke down the right side of the pitch, and played a great ball back across goal, rookie midfielder and Chilliwack native Malcolm Stafford playing in front of family for this one, got on the end of a ball from Gajic but pushed his shot wide on a gaping net. That would be the last notable scoring opportunity for the visitors, as UBC pressed trying to find the equalizer for the last 25 minutes of the match.

In the 65th, a ball from Mitch Piraux found Caleb Clarke, who's first shot was blocked, before his follow up strike whistled just high of the Griffins goal. UBC was growing increasingly dangerous going forward, and they found a break through in the 71st from Thomas Gardner. Verhoven was once again fouled after some great movement, gifting the T-Birds a set piece from 25 yards out. Free kick specialist Gardner stepped up to score his fourth goal from a free kick in as many game's, placing a delightful strike into the top left corner off of replacement goal keepers Seth Johnstone hands, giving UBC a 2-1 edge. Another counter attack came down the right side and found Piraux once again who had been brilliant since coming in at the half, played a ball in to Clarke, as it eluded the keeper and fell off of the first year's strikers' chest and to his foot, as he tapped it in for the decisive third goal to secure a 3-1 victory for UBC.

"It's three points, it is another six point weekend," said UBC head coach Mike Mosher, "We'll take the positives going forward. Their was a lack of intensity and passion in the first half, which is surprising, but I am happy with the win at the end of the day."

PHOTO: Bob Fird/UBC Thunderbirds