Saturday, September 29, 2012 - Calgary, AB...Third-ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds scored once early and once late to beat the Mount Royal University Cougars 2-0 Saturday in Canadian Interuniversity Sports men's soccer action at Mount Royal Stadium Field in Calgary, AB.

Steve Johnson scored in the 13th minute and Gregory Smith added another in extra time to keep the Thunderbirds unbeaten and atop the Canada West Pacific Division at 5-0.

The Cougars are 2-5-0 in their first season in the Prairie Division.

Richard Meister earned the win in goal, making two saves, while David Thalheimer recorded the loss, making six saves on the Cougars end.

Mount Royal gets set to play host to the Trinity Western Spartans Spartans on Sunday. Sept 30, while UBC travels to Winnipeg to square off against the Wesman at 10 a.m.

Mount Royal was awarded two victories this week when it was discovered the University of Winnipeg Wesmen were playing with an ineligible player when they swept their series at Mount Royal Sept. 15-16.

Despite the defeat, Cougars coach Jamie Pollock was left feeling good about his team's efforts against one of the top teams in Canada.

“I thought we competed like we are capable of competing,” he said. “I'm not expecting miracles. I'm not asking people to do what they are not capable of doing. We just want them to be the best they can be for the day. By and large that's where we were today.”

The Cougars have a quick turnaround before they face another top CIS squad tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock when they host seventh-ranked Trinity Western University. The Spartans were right behind the Thunderbirds in the division with a 5-0-1 record entering this weekend.

Johnson's goal came when he headed a nifty cross from Gagandeep Dosanjh past Cougars goalkeeper David Thalheimer in the 13th minute.

Thalheimer was kept busy all afternoon and benefitted from at least three UBC shots finding the crossbar.

As the whistle was about to blow for the final time, Smith took a nice through ball from Ken O'Connor and got it past Thalheimer.

The Cougars challenged late and Cody Cook came within a whisker of netting the team's second goal of the season on a play that also came after 90 minutes had elapsed. Thunderbirds goalie Richard Meister had to dive to stop Cook's hard shot from in close and the rebound narrowly eluded Cook's right foot.

Cook saw positives from the Cougars play, especially over the final 45 minutes.

“We were really coming together and making opportunities,” said the fourth-year student, who is a native of Halifax, N.S.

“As the season's come on we are becoming stronger and stronger. All the little things are fitting together. It's just a matter of time.”

Pollock liked the play of his team too.

“We soaked up a lot of pressure. We were much more disciplined at the back. And we created a lot more chances. We were very, very close,” he said.

“If we can finally get that last touch to finally put the puck into the back of the net it will lift our spirits. It's coming.”