November 7, 2025

Thunderbirds stage furious comeback, advance to national final

Laval

7-6-2, 7-5-2

UBC

20-0-0, 19-0-0

Final	1	2	T
Laval (7-6-2, 7-5-2)	2	0	2
UBC (20-0-0, 19-0-0)	1	2	3

Scoring Summary

1st - 11:47 - Elsa Lessard (Laval)

1st - 31:19 - Lea-Jeanne Fortier (Laval)

1st - 33:25 - Jayda Thompson (UBC)

2nd - 76:21 - Maddy Norman (UBC)

2nd - 85:35 - Jayda Thompson (UBC)

Game Leaders

Laval

G: 2 Players (#10, #14) - 1

A: N/A

Sh: Lea-Jeanne Fortier - 4

Sv: Anne-Gab. Pouliot - 10

UBC

G: Jayda Thompson - 2

A: 3 Players (#2, #20, #23) - 1

Sh: Ava Alexander - 5

Sv: Dakota Beckett - 5

Team Stats

Game Statistics	Laval	UBC
Shots (on goal)	13 (7)	15 (13)
Saves	10	5
Fouls	8	9
Corner Kicks	3	8
Offsides	1	0

Full stats

The undefeated UBC Thunderbirds showcased their championship mettle Friday, rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Laval Rouge et Or 3-2 in a thrilling semifinal at the U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championship.

Trailing 2-0 in the first half, the Thunderbirds (19-0-0, 14-0-0 CW) mounted a relentless comeback, capped by Jayda Thompson’s game-winning goal in the 86th minute to keep their perfect season alive and advance to the national title game.

The Rouge et Or (9-7-2, 7-5-2), finalists from the Quebec conference, stunned the Western Canadian champions early. Elsa Lessard opened the scoring in the 12th minute, finishing a play set up by Mathilde Rousseau. Laval doubled its lead just past the half-hour mark when Lea-Jeanne Fortier calmly converted a penalty kick.

UBC responded quickly, as Thompson cut the deficit to 2-1 just two minutes after Laval’s penalty, finishing a feed from Ella Sunde.

The game-winning sequence began in the 77th minute. Thompson turned provider, setting up substitute Maddy Norman for the equalizing goal. With the momentum fully swung, Thompson completed her brace with just over four minutes remaining, firing home the decisive goal after a setup from Ava Alexander to send the Thunderbirds to the final.

UBC goalkeeper Dakota Beckett made five saves in the victory, while Laval’s Anne-Gabrielle Pouliot was stellar in a losing effort, making 10 stops to keep her team in the game.

The victory extends UBC’s perfect record and sends them to Sunday’s championship game. The Laval Rouge et Or will play for the bronze medal, also on Sunday.

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NIKE TEAM PLAYERS OF THE GAME
UBC: Jayda Thompson

LAV: Elsa Lessard