VANCOUVER - Following a tense first half, the UBC Thunderbirds perseverance paid off with two goals in the second half to defeat the visiting Saskatchewan Huskies on a chilly Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium. The loss brings an end to the Huskies' seven game winning-streak and sends them to Canada West bronze medal game tomorrow in Calgary.
 
Early in the first half, a great through ball by Nick Fussell found Shumbusho bursting in behind the defence, but his chip was well saved by an aggressive Saskatchewan keeper Marcus Baxter.
 
Shumbusho then played provider with a great ball in for Kerman Pannu who came on as a sub earlier in the half, but his shot from close range went over the goal in the 26^th minute.
 
UBC was aggressive in the second half and were rewarded in the 54^th minute when Jordan Haynes delivered a curling cross from 30 yards out on the left flank for Pannu to head home from close range giving the 'Birds the important 1-0 advantage.
 
In the 67^th minute, another combination play down the right side fell to Fussell and his shot took a deflection and was headed goal bound, but Baxter made an unreal save near the short side post to keep it scoreless. 
 
In minute 81 the T-Birds would add an insurance marker following a flurry of chances the ball found Gardner atop the Huskies 18-yard-box and he unleashed a turf burner to the bottom left corner and a 2-0 lead.
 
The visitors poured on the pressure in the final few minutes, the best chance coming off the head of rookie substitute Ajani Fontaine but he sent it high.
  
UBC will meet the Calgary Dinos Saturday night at 7 p.m. PT in the Canada West gold medal game, meanwhile the Huskies take on the Mount Royal Cougars in the bronze medal match at 4 p.m. PT at UBC Thunderbird Stadium. You can catch all the action on Canada West TV.