VANCOUVER, Canada – Making 15 changes to the starting lineup that defeated UBC, 39-36, in Berkeley, the Golden Bears battled hard, tying the match after 20 minutes and staying within eight points through minute 60, but were unable to hold on as British Columbia won, 49-25, Sunday in Thunderbird Stadium.
 
California (15-1, 4-0 PAC) competed with the Thunderbirds using a Starting XV comprised of seven frosh-sophs. The Bears got tries from three freshmen in Adam Roeske, Desi Streater and Seth Purdey, the last of whom dotted down to close the gap to 28-20 in the 57th minute. Matchday captain Matthew Coyle kicked two penalties (2-for-2) and made 2-of-3 conversions for the visitors.
 
"We did OK. I'm proud of the team," said head coach Jack Clark. "We wanted this experience for the whole of the squad, not just the team which played them in Berkeley. I thought many of the underclassmen in particular had strong matches."
 
"It was a great opportunity," said Roeske, who started alongside fellow freshman Purdey in the centers and scored the try that helped tie the score at minute 21. "A match like this can bring benefits further down the road."
 
"The effort, energy and intent were there," added sophomore scrumhalf Ken Kurihara. "Obviously it's a big challenge, but we relish the opportunity to show we are capable of stepping up."
 
Cormac Heaney, a junior who started at No. 8, agreed. "The young guys definitely stepped up. They were a hard, physical team, but these are the games we want. We all want to keep pushing forward."
 
British Columbia (17-5, 12-3 Premier) was led by fullback Theo Sauder's 21 points on a try, five conversions (5-for-7) and two penalties (2-of-3).
 
Next up, the team returns home for the Cal Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11, a two-day, four-team tournament that will feature Cal, UCLA, Army and Claremont Colleges and serve as the backdrop of the team's Homecoming Weekend, when the Bears welcome back former players and their families and celebrate anniversaries of past national championship teams.
 
The Scoring Timeline vs. British Columbia
 
02:00 UBC (Nick Allen) 5
 
09:00 UBC (Elias Ergas) 5
 
12:00 Matthew Coyle 3
 
21:00 Adam Roeske 5, Matthew Coyle 2
 
23:00 UBC (Theo Sauder) 5, 2
 
31:00 UBC (Theo Sauder) 3
 
40:00 UBC (Theo Sauder) 3
 
Halftime Score: British Columbia 23, California 10
 
43:00 Matthew Coyle 3
 
47:00 UBC (Fraser Hurst) 5
 
57:00 Seth Purdey 5, Matthew Coyle
 
62:00 UBC (John Jubenvill) 5, (Theo Sauder) 2
 
69:00 UBC (Elias Ergas) 5, (Theo Sauder) 2
 
72:00 Desi Streater 5
 
77:00 UBC (John Hixon) 5, (Theo Sauder) 2
 
Final Score: British Columbia 49, California 25
 
The Team vs. British Columbia
 
15. Goena (Ternan @ 77:00), 14. Dunn, 13. Purdey, 12. Roeske, 11. Damron (Streater @ 70:00), 10. Coyle, 9. Kurihara, 1. Iscaro (Duvall@ 77:00), 2. Manzo (Joyce @ 52:00), 3. Baylor, 4. Le Merle, 5. Golla, 6. John Warnock, 7. Kay, 8. Heaney