Len Catling/UBC Thunderbirds

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (7-1-0) rolled to their seventh straight victory with a decisive 3-0 triumph over the MacEwan Grifins (4-3-0) at Ken Woods Field on Friday night.

Jasmin Dhanda scored her Canada West-leading 11th goal and added two assists, while Amelia Crawford recorded a brace within two minutes, as the Thunderbirds scored all their goals in the match's first half.

"I am so proud of the way the team is attacking. To put over 20 shots on a good defensive team with many of them grade 'A' goal chances is exciting to see," said UBC head coach Jesse Symons. "The team is motivated to play at a high tempo and look for moments to overload defensive spaces. It was great seeing Amelia (Crawford) get in her first minutes of 2017 and make an immediate impact with two goals."

MacEwan goaltender Emily Burns made nine saves in the loss, including one on a 49th-minute penalty kick to deny Crawford a hat trick. The penalty came as a result of a straight red card on MacEwan's Sarah Riddle. 

Just a couple of minutes before, Griffin Suekiana Choucair - who had a game-high four shots on goal - hit the crossbar off a free kick, nearly getting the visitors on the scoreboard.

The match was Crawford's first in seven after being injured in the opening game of the season. Dhanda's opening goal was her fifth game winner of 2017 and the three points moved her within two of Canada West's all-time leading point producer and Thunderbird alumna, Janine Frazao.

"We are scoring goals from many different players, but in some ways more exciting is how few chances we are giving up," added Symons. "Tonight most of MacEwan's shots were from thirty yards or farther out. We are managing attacks very well and take the defensive side very seriously as we head into October."

Thunderbird goalkeeper Marlee Maracle and the T-Bird defence continue to be impenetrable at times, recording their third consecutive shutout.

The Thunderbirds will host the UNBC Timberwolves on Sunday at 2 p.m. inside Thunderbird Stadium. MacEwan will face No. 8 Victoria Saturday at Centennial Stadium, with the kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. PT/6 p.m. MT.

PHOTO BY: Rich Lam/UBC Thunderbirds