With another division win, the Heat men have taken a big step towards solidifying their spot in the 2016 postseason.
Saturday, October 1st, 2016
NCSSL Fields, Prince George, BC
SCORING 1 2 FINAL UBC Okanagan (5-3-2) 1 1 2 UNBC (2-9-1) 0 0 0
PRINCE GEORGE, BC -- The UBC Okanagan Heat defeated the UNBC Timberwolves by a final score of 2-0 in men’s soccer competition Saturday afternoon.
Once again, the Heat offence was led by the team’s freshmen. The two goals of the match came from Spencer Young and Corbin Beauchemin.
Seven of the teams nine goals so far this season have come from first year players. Young (2), Nikhil Reddy (2), Zach Rachynski (2), Beauchemin (1). The other two goals belong to a second year, Luke Warkentin, and a third year Cole Kingzett.
The first goal was scored by first year Heat defender Spencer Young, his second of the season, in the 18th minute. Young buried his shot in the top corner, after receiving a low cross from Luke Warkentin, who earned his first assist of the season on the play.
The only other goal of the match came from first year Heat midfielder Corbin Beauchemin. Beauchemin took a cross into the 6-yard box from Zach Rachynski, and put a header past Goodey in the 62nd minute.
The Heat were in control for nearly the entire match, leading the Timberwolves in all offensive categories. The UBC Okanagan side recorded five shots to UNBC’s four.
The Heat recorded five shots on goal, while their defence did not allow a shot on goal at any point in the match, allowing keeper Mitch McCaw to go a full 90 minutes without having to make a save in what is his third clean sheet of the season. At the other end of the pitch Rob Goodey, the UNBC keeper, made three saves.
The Timberwolves came closest to finding the net in the 59th minute, as Tofa Fakunle (Calgary, Alta.) chipped a ball over a UBC Okanagan defender to spring Keenan Cartwright (Squamish, B.C.) inside the 18-yard box, but his shot attempt went high.
With the win, UBC Okanagan hold firm in their third place standing in the Pacific Division of Canada West, holding 14 points with their improved record of 4-3-2. Past the halfway mark of the season, with nine games played and seven remaining, the Heat sit four points up on 4th place UFV (3-5-1; 10 points) and TRU, putting them in position to stay among the top four and make the Canada West postseason.
The UNBC Timberwolves drop to a record of 2-8-1 in Conference play, and still sit in 7th place of the Pacific Division.
Both teams will play again at 2:15 PM PST tomorrow afternoon, in the second match of this weekend’s double-header between the Heat and the Timberwolves in Prince George.
The game will not be available on CanadaWest.TV, though live stats will be available at CanadaWest.org.
~ Grayson Leahy, UBC Okanagan Heat, with notes from AGeordie Carragher/UNBC Timberwolves
