The UBC Heat women’s soccer team came out on top against Vancouver Island University’s Mariners this Sunday afternoon. Both teams fought hard throughout the match but the Heat proved to be strong competition, leaving with a 3-1 win.
The Heat came out strong with a goal in the first minute of gameplay by midfielder Michelle Smith (1st year, Vernon, BC), as Smith was able to finish her chance after a scramble in front of the net.
The game continued as both teams struggled to maintain their control of the ball. Fourth year keeper Sabrina Gasparac (Langley, BC) held the opposing team back with strong support from defender Haley Carlson (1st year, Red Deer, AB). The Heat stymied a number of Mariner rushes before they had a chance to gain any kind of momentum. With little offensive output from either team the first half ended 1-0 Heat.
In the first five minutes of the second half the Heat scored again off a penalty kick by midfielder Taylor Sarchet (3rd year, Surrey, BC) bringing the Heat’s lead to 2-0. The heat were awarded the PK when Emily Braun (3rd year, midfielder, Calgary, AB) was taken down inside the box.
The Mariners responded by reclaiming their defensive and offensive objectives and brought the ball down the field trying to even up the score against UBC. Mariner defender, Brittney Shilingford (2nd year, Ladysmith, BC), helped continue to thwart the Heat’s advances most of the game.
Forward Lana Finley (1st year, West Kelowna, BC) netted the Heat another goal late in the second half, expanding the Heat lead to 3-0.
Explained Lana, “I think we had a really good second half; the first half was kind of slow but we made some changes and they paid off.” She went on to express some of the difficulty the Mariners posed. “Their passing was really good, they were really good in the air and made it tough for us.”
The Mariners subbed in first year forward Emma Johannson (Campbell River, BC) early in the second half and she helped recover ground for VIU in the closing minutes of the game by scoring their only goal of the match late in the second half.
The game ended 3-1 Heat with both teams fighting to control the ball until the last minute of play. Coach Claire Paterson of UBC commented on how her team performed. “They all played together and realized when they were not playing as they should be and brought themselves up to bring two good wins.”
Next action for the Women’s Soccer team will be Sat Oct 8 at 1:00 P.M. as the Heat host the University of Northern BC Timberwolves at the Nonis Sports field on UBC’s Okanagan campus.
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