Heading into their third season in Canada West soccer, both Heat teams look to improve upon bottom-half finishes last season. With the men finishing in fifth place last season, they’ll be trying to break back into the postseason; the women’s side will be trying to make the playoffs for the first time since joining Canada West two seasons ago.
COMPLETE 2016-17 UBC OKANAGAN SOCCER SCHEDULES: MEN – WOMEN
Men’s Schedule
Coming off of last season’s fifth place finish, one rung in the standings out of a playoff spot, the Heat men will be looking to make their way back into the playoffs in their third season of Canada West competition.
The UBC Okanagan men’s side will play all 7 Pacific Division teams, and all Canada West teams with the exceptions of the Universities of Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. Their season will have them play sixteen matches, seven of which will be played in front of friendly crowds at UBC Okanagan’s Nonis Field.
The Heat start their season at home again this year, with the first match coming at Nonis Field on Saturday, August 27 when they host the University of Victoria. The second of two home bouts to open the season will be an inter-institution match against last season’s Canada West Champions, as they’ll host the UBC Thunderbirds on Sunday, August 28. This is the only time the Thunderbirds in any sport will make the trek to the Okanagan this year in Canada West conference play.
The Heat men will play their first road match in Langley, against Trinity Western on Friday, September 2, then will visit the University of the Fraser Valley the next day, before playing their next two matches at home against Calgary and Lethbridge on September 17 & 18.
The Heat’s longest stretch of road matches will run from September 24, when they visit Alberta, through October 6 against Thompson Rivers. The second half of the BC Interior annual darby will be on the Nonis Turf on October 8.
The Heat will close out the upcoming season on the road against the University of Victoria, on October 23 after visiting The T’birds on their home turf the previous day.
Women’s Schedule
After finishing in the seventh in Canada West’s Pacific Division last season, one spot out of playoff contention, the Heat’s women’s side are still looking to earn their first Canada West playoff berth since joining the conference two seasons ago.
The UBC Okanagan women will start their season on the road, with a pair of matches in Alberta against Lethbridge and Calgary on September 10 & 11. They’ll then play four home matches on consecutive weekends, hosting UNBC, Alberta, UFV, and TWU on September 17, 18, 24, & 25 respectively.
Arguably the biggest test for the Heat women will be their first road match after the home stand, when they visit the defending Canada West- and National Champion Thunderbirds at UBC in Vancouver on September 30, before travelling to play Victoria on the first day of October.
The Heat will follow their trip to the coast with the long time rivalry games against Thompson Rivers, the always hotly contested matches will once again be a home-and-home against the WolfPack, Thursday (Oct. 6) in Kamloops before playing the home version at UBC Okanagan on Saturday, October 8.
The final two road matches of the season are against Alberta and UNBC. Friday (Oct. 14) in Edmonton and on Sunday (Oct. 16) in Prince George.
The Heat women will then close out their season at home, with matches against the Universities of Saskatchewan and Regina on October 22 & 23 respectively.
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men’s Final Four action will be hosted by the highest remaining seed in the Prairie division and is set for November 5-6. The Women’s Canada West Select Six will be hosted by the highest remaining Pacific seed and will take place November 3-6. Quarter-finals for both genders take place on the October 29-30 weekend.
The CIS soccer season will conclude with a national championship on November 10-13. The Men’s competition will be hosted by the University of Guelph in Ontario while Acadia University in Nova Scotia will entertain the women’s squads.
For more info on schedules and up to date game times please visit www.goheat.ca.
2016-17 Complete Canada West Soccer Schedule: MEN’S | WOMEN’S | Canada West Schedule Release
Women’s Heat Home Soccer Schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sat Sep 17 | UNBC | 1 PM |
| Sun Sep 18 | Alberta | 1 PM |
| Sat Sep 24 | Fraser Valley | 1 PM |
| Sun Sep 25 | Trinity Western | 1 PM |
| Sat Oct 08 | Thompson Rivers | 1 PM |
| Sat Oct 22 | Saskatchewan | 1 PM |
| Sun Oct 23 | Regina | 1 PM |
Men’s Heat Home Soccer Schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sat Aug 27 | Victoria | 3 PM |
| Sun Aug 28 | UBC | 3 PM |
| Sat Sep 17 | Calgary | 3 PM |
| Sun Sep 18 | Lethbridge | 3 PM |
| Sat Oct 8 | Thompson Rivers | 3 PM |
| Sat Oct 15 | Fraser Valley | 1 PM |
| Sun Oct 16 | Trinity Western | 1 PM |