Box Score VANCOUVER - A goal in the 83rd minute from fourth-year forward Owen Spicker helped lift the UBC Okanagan Heat men's soccer team to a 1-1 draw with the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday night at Thunderbird Stadium.
For the second-time this season, Spicker, a native of Langley, B.C., provided some late-game heroics for the Heat as he got on the end of an Aidan Tuck (Russell, Ont.) set piece and directed a header past Thunderbirds keeper Bennet McKay of Delta, B.C.
The goal provided a quick response for the Heat after they had fallen behind in the 74th minute after UBC's Chris Fisher of Powell River, B.C., had opened the scoring for the home side.
It was a chippy affair from the opening whistle between the sister schools as eight yellow cards were handed out in the contest, with five going the way of UBCO. The competitive contest reflected the importance of the game as the two teams are in a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Canada West West division.
Nicholas Reitsma of Kelowna, B.C., in net for the Heat, would end the night with three saves, while UBC's McKay finished with two saves.
The result leaves the Heat (1-2-4) just three points behind UBC (2-1-4), setting the stage for another important showdown on Saturday night.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow night at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game can be watched live at CanadaWest.tv presented by Co-op.
