Aneesa Hetherington/UBC Thunderbirds

VANCOUVER -- UBC was held scoreless for their second straight game in a tightly contested 0-0 draw with the undefeated third-ranked Alberta Golden Bears.

At a rainy Thunderbird Stadium, No. 2-ranked UBC was forced to play a man down when Karn Phagura was ejected after his second yellow card at the 60-minute mark. The draw puts UBC at 4-0-3, one point behind the division lead. Alberta earned its first tie of the season as their six wins are tops in the CIS. 

"They've got a good team," said UBC Head Coach Mike Mosher. "Probably the best team we've seen in terms of their ability to posses the ball and move it around quickly. Credit to them - a lot of young players on their side of the ball too."

Mosher was pleased with how his team responded after Phagura's red card. "I thought for the last 30 minutes we were the better team. We got the better scoring opportunities. I'm proud of the way they rolled up their sleeves and worked hard. We played without fear."

Veteran captain Bryan Fong agreed. "It was definitely chippy but I think our boys stepped up in the second half and really played like men. It was an unlucky call to get the red, but I'm proud of the way the boys fought and competed."

Fong recognized his team needed to do a better job of finishing their chances, as the T-Birds outshot the Golden Bears 14-2. 

Next up, the Thunderbirds take on the 1-3-1 Saskatchewan Huskies on Sunday with a 1 p.m. PT start at Ken Woods Field.

Alberta will travel to Victoria to face the Vikes on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. PT.

IMAGE CREDIT: Rich Lam/UBC Thunderbirds