Courtesy of Dan Kinvig
UBC Okanagan revs up the offense, scores three and smother the Cascades for a much needed (3-0) win. Play TWU tomorrow at 7:15 p.m.
Men’s Soccer (Canada West Conference play)
Friday October 2, 2015
Abbotsford Senior Secondary Turf Field, Abbotsford, BC
| UBC Okanagan 3 |
UFV 0 |
| SCORING | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBC Okanagan (2-4-1) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| UFV (4-3-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ABBOTSFORD, BC - The UBC Okanagan Heat picked up their second win of the season on Friday evening at Abbotsford Senior Secondary, defeating the University of the Fraser Valley 3-0 and snapping the Cascades’ three-game win streak in the process.
Heat forward Luke Warkentin notched two goals in the first half and midfielder Enzo Paal added one more after the break to secure the victory for UBC Okanagan.
The Heat’s first clean sheet of the season lifted their overall record to 2-4-1 (W-L-T). They’re in Langley tomorrow night where they’ll kick off at 7:15 p.m. against the Trinity Western Spartans.
The Cascades now sit at 4-3-0 and host the Thompson Rivers WolfPack tomorrow at Abbotsford Senior. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
UBC Okanagan opened the scoring in the 16th minute after the Cascades tried unsuccessfully to clear a cross. Defender Brady Weir headed the ball forward, but it took a deflection and landed in Warkentin’s path. The CIS rookie drilled a shot just inside the right post to give his team an early lead.
Taking advantage of a quick free kick in the 41st minute, Paal played the ball to Cole Kingzett who touched the ball past Cascade defender Sahib Phagura. The winger laid the ball across goal just past the outstretched arms of UFV’s goalkeeper Alex Skrzeta. Warkentin was first to it and finished calmly into a wide-open net to give his team a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
Kingzett was also instrumental in the Heat’s third goal of the game. He got in behind the Cascades defence and broke in on Skrzeta, who jumped off his line to cut off the attack. Kingzett pushed the ball wide past the keeper who had no choice but to bring the Heat forward down in the box. Paal stepped up to take the PK and struck a hard ball towards the left post. Skrzeta ranged to his right and made the initial stop, but Paal quickly pounced on the rebound and tucked the ball in.
The win was much needed for UBC Okanagan, who now find themselves very much in a race for on of the four playoff spots up for grabs in the Canada West Pacific Division. The team is sitting in the fourth and final playoff spot is the Trinity Western Spartans. The Spartans, tomorrows opponent for the Heat, also won tonight, a 2-1 home turf victory over Thompson Rivers are (3-2-0), and are just two points ahead of UBC Okanagan.
Saturday's night outcome will go a long way in deciding the team's playoff outlook.
- with notes from Russell Arbuthnot, UFV Athletics communication staff