ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - A first-half goal from Malachi Emerson and steady hands from Heat keeper Ronan Woodroffe led UBC Okanagan to a season-opening victory over the UFV Cascades at Rotary Stadium on Friday night.

Emerson, from Surrey, B.C. built off his team-leading five goals last season, pocketing his team's first goal of the year in the 18th minute.

A member of last season's Canada West All-Rookie team, Ronan Woodroffe made four stops, as the Toronto product looks to build off his impressive 2022 campaign. In his rookie season, Woodroffe recorded four wins with two clean sheets.

Kelowna B.C.'s Zack MacInnes made an impressive run in the 37th minute, beating two defenders before ringing a shot off the crossbar. The third-year forward made his sixth career start for the Heat, finishing the game with a team-best four shots, including two on target.

There were a number of new faces in the UBCO lineup as first-years Ian Klumpen (Austin, Texas) and Varun Kothary (Burnaby, B.C.) made their inaugural starts as members of the Heat, while NAIA transfer Aidan Young (Toronto) made his debut as well. Donning the white and blue kit for the first time, as substitutes, were Mark Perizzolo (Burnaby, B.C.), and Tyson Gugushe (Vancouver).

UBCO's win is their first against the Cascades since 2018 and their first in Abbotsford in eight years as they start their season at 1-0-0.

The Heat will make the trip down the Trans Canada Highway to Langley B.C., meeting their next opponent, the Trinity Western Spartans, for a match tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. The game can be seen live on CanadaWest.tv.