Their best player was at home, resting a broken leg. Without him, the UNBC Timberwolves were trying to run with the second-ranked team in Canada.
They did well for a good chunk of the first half but the Timberwolves eventually fell 6-0 to the UBC Thunderbirds in a Canada West men's soccer game played Friday night in Vancouver.
"We had a real good first 20 or 30 minutes and as the half wore on UBC started to show a little bit more," said UNBC coach Alan Alderson. "We were very tidy as far as our shape and working real hard to do that but when you're up against some very fast and talented and strong players they're going to wear you down."
The Timberwolves had some great scoring chances in the early stages, including a shot off the crossbar by Tyson Hunter and a bullet by Danny Dell that the UBC goalie managed to keep out of his net. The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, got their own offence going and built a 3-0 lead before half-time.
In the second half, UBC scored two more quick ones to put the game on ice. Another marker later in the half completed the scoring.
The Timberwolves now 0-9 in their first Canada West season, were playing without fourth-year midfielder Sourosh Amani, who suffered a broken tibia and fibula in a home game last Sunday against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Alderson gave his players full credit for staying strong in his absence.
"No matter how you look at it, that's a huge blow for us," Alderson said. "He is an incredible leader on the field, a leader off the field and an incredibly well-liked player. It hurts us all, and we all hurt for him because of what he has to go through now as far as rehabilitation and all those other things. So for our boys to come out and play as well as they did for the first 30 minutes, I'm very proud of them for that."
The Thunderbirds improved to 7-0 and have now outscored their opponents 29-3 this season.
The teams will do battle again today in Vancouver. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.
