VICTORIA – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's soccer team suffered their second straight loss to open the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon as they suffered a 4-1 setback against the Victoria Vikes.
After opening their season with a victory on Friday night, the Vikes came out of the gates strong on Sunday, scoring twice in the opening 40 minutes to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
UBCO looked for a spark to start the second half as they brought on rookie
Jaise Shaw of Calgary at halftime and it nearly paid off three minutes in when Shaw found senior
Zack MacInnes of Kelowna, B.C., in the box but his effort was denied by Vikes keeper Callum Weir of Haines Junction, YK.
The game would then turn physical with three yellow cards handed out in quick succession as the two teams pushed for an edge but it would be the Vikes who would get the next goal, going ahead 3-0 in the 68
th minute thanks to Matthew Pearse's (Victoria) second goal of the match.
The Heat tried to make a late run and were rewarded with a goal in the 74
th minute when
Jacob York of Port Coquitlam, B.C., brought down a ball in the box before finishing to break Weir's clean sheet bid. However, the Vikes would add another in added time to come away with the win.
TOP PERFORMERS
D Jacob York – UBCO
The fifth-year senior scored the fourth goal of his Heat career on Sunday, and first since the 2021 season, on a tidy finish in the box.
MF Matthew Pearse – Victoria
The second-year midfielder and member of the 2023 Canada West All-Rookie team scored his third and fourth goals of the season to continue his hot start to the 2024 campaign.
UP NEXT
UBCO (0-2-0) will return to Kelowna for their 2024 home opener as they get set to host the UFV Cascades (2-0-0) at Nonis Sports Field on Friday, August 30. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and tickets to the game are free for all fans.
