KELOWNA, B.C. – The fall season for the UBCO Heat kicks into high gear this upcoming long weekend with five teams in action. The women's and men's soccer teams play their home openers against the TRU WolfPack and UFV Cascades respectively while cross country competes in the Fast Days of Summer 5000 at the Rail Trail. Meanwhile, softball travels to Calgary for their first competition weekend.
 
AT HOME
Women's Soccer
August 30 vs TRU WolfPack – 4 p.m. – Nonis Sports Field
Stream: CanadaWest.tv
Live Coverage: @UBCOHeat on X
 
Fresh off their best Canada West season in program history, the Heat will look to build off their first-ever quarter-final appearance in 2024 as the regular season kicks off on Friday night at Nonis Sports Field.
 
The team boasts a strong group of returning players as the program's depth has improved over the past number of seasons. Up top, West Kelowna's Abigail Taneda will push the offensive pace for the Heat as she looks to improve upon a strong 2023 campaign that saw her record three goals and five assists.
 
Fourth-year seniors Annika Gross of Kelowna, B.C., Holly Tarves of North Vancouver, B.C., Sophie Campbell of Surrey, B.C., Sydney Kolodziej of Kelowna, B.C., and Alyssa Scott of North Vancouver, B.C., provide the Heat with plenty of skill and experience in all areas of the pitch.
 
One name to keep an eye on for the Heat this season is midfielder Eleni Georgacacos of Calgary. The 2023 Canada West All-Rookie team member finished second on the Heat in assists a year ago with four and is sure to provide a number of key final balls into dangerous areas for the UBCO forwards to run onto.
 
UBCO opens the season with an important matchup against their Interior rivals, the Thompson Rivers WolfPack, in the first match of the 2024-25 Presidents' Cup competition. UBCO has won three consecutive women's Presidents' Cup title from the WolfPack and women's soccer will look to give the three-time reigning champions an early lead in the competition.
 
The Heat have won three consecutive games against the WolfPack, including a pair of 1-0 victories a season ago.
 
Men's Soccer
August 30 vs UFV Cascades – 6:30 p.m. – Nonis Sports Field
August 31 vs Trinity Western Spartans – 6:30 p.m. – Nonis Sports Field
Stream: CanadaWest.tv
Live Coverage: @UBCOHeat on X
 
After a tough opening weekend on the road, the Heat (0-2-0) will look to use home field to their advantage as they look to pick up wins over UFV (2-0-0) and Trinity Western (0-0-0).
 
Two seniors got their season off on the right foot last weekend as midfielder Alex Sol of Langley, B.C., and defender Jacob York of Port Coquitlam, B.C., both found the back of the net. York's play earned him Heat Athlete of the Week honours, alongside second-year midfielder Varun Kothary of Burnaby, B.C., who was instrumental in dictating the pace of play for the Heat.
 
UBCO enters this weekend having won two-straight games against the Cascades, both 1-0 victories last season, while the Heat also earned a 1-0 win over the Spartans in their last meeting at Nonis Sports Field last September.
 
Cross Country
September 1 – Fast Days of Summer 5000 – 8 a.m. – Rail Trail
 
The Heat will kick off their 2024 race schedule with the Fast Days of Summer 5000, an event which serves as a fundraiser for the program, as they start working towards hosting the U SPORTS Cross Country Championships at Mission Recreation Park in November.
 
One of the biggest storylines around the program this season is the return of Lauren McNeil, who returns to UBCO after completing her undergrad in England. McNeil won silver at the 2021 U SPORTS Championships and took home gold with Team Great Britain in the half marathon at the European Championships back in June.
 
ON THE ROAD
Softball
August 31 vs Lethbridge – 8 a.m. (PT) – Calgary, Alta.
August 31 vs SAIT – 10 a.m. (PT) – Calgary, Alta.
August 31 vs Saskatchewan – 2 p.m. (PT) – Calgary, Alta.
September 1 vs Regina – 8 a.m. (PT) – Calgary, Alta.
September 1 vs Calgary – 10 a.m. (PT) – Calgary, Alta.
 
The softball team gets their 2024 season underway this weekend in Calgary with five games against five different opponents as they begin defence of their 2024 Western Canadian Softball Association championship.
 
The Heat have a strong group of returning players, led by WCSA Top Pitcher Mikhaela Muir, along with 2023 All-Stars Bella Green and Cheyenne Simicak. Seniors Taylor Roeseler, Lauryn Dirks, Katelyn Harman and Sheyanne Lawrence also promise to make a big impact in potentially their final year with the team.