KELOWNA, B.C. –
Ronan Woodroffe made six saves and
Spencer Mellett scored the game's only goal as the UBC Okanagan Heat men's soccer team wrapped up their season on a high note with a 1-0 victory over the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Saturday evening at Nonis Sports Field.
With the win, the Heat grab a 2-0 lead in the men's Presidents' Cup competition with TRU heading to court sport season.
Mellett, a native of Coquitlam, B.C., scored the game's only goal in the 88
th minute after coming on as a substitute.
With Thompson Rivers down to 10 men following a red card 10 minutes earlier, the rookie midfielder took a feed from
Aidan Synnuck of Sidney, B.C., in behind the WolfPack defence. Working his way down the end line, he fired a shot from a sharp angle that snuck past TRU keeper Luca Ortu of Vancouver to give his team the late lead.
The chippy affair, which saw nine cards issued, would go eight minutes deep into stoppage time, allowing the shorthanded WolfPack to push for an equalizer. However, Woodroffe, the native of Toronto, was there with a pair of saves late to seal the victory.
Woodroffe shone for the Heat on the night, picking up player of the game honours, after recording his second penalty save of the weekend. The third-year keeper denied TRU's Minwoo Kang of Seoul, South Korea in the 64
th minute, to keep the game scoreless.
His six saves also helped Woodroffe jump into a tie for 10
th all-time in Canada West history for most saves in the single season with 84. In addition, his fourth win of the season moves Woodroffe into first place on the Heat's career wins list with 12, passing former UBCO keeper Mitch McCaw.
Prior to the match, the Heat recognized their three graduating seniors including defender
Jacob York of Port Coquitlam, B.C., forward
Zack MacInnes of Kelowna, B.C., and midfielder
Alex Sol of Langley, B.C.
UBCO finishes the season with a 4-8-3 record, which will leave them in fifth place in the Canada West Pacific division standings.
