KELOWNA, B.C. – Thanks to an 83
rd minute goal from fourth-year forward
Zack MacInnes, the UBC Okanagan Heat men's soccer team earned their first victory of the season on Saturday night as they got past the visiting Trinity Western Spartans by a score of 1-0 at Nonis Sports Field.
MacInnes, a native of Kelowna, B.C., converted a rebound opportunity after an initial shot from rookie forward
Aidan Synnuck of Sidney, B.C., was stopped by Spartans keeper Alexander Cordeiro of Burnaby, B.C.
The goal is MacInnes first of the season and second of his career.
The two Pacific division rivals were evenly matched throughout the contest with both teams finishing the night with four shots on goal. Trinity Western (0-2-0) controlled play through the opening 20 minutes before the Heat (1-2-1) found their footing and began to swing the contest in their favour.
MacInnes nearly opened the scoring in the 79
th minute when his shot from the top of the box deflected off a Spartans defender before striking the cross bar. However, he would make no mistake just four minutes later and the Heat would hold off a late push from Trinity Western to seal the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS
F Zack MacInnes – UBCO
The fourth-year forward used his pace and ball skills all night long on the wing to frustrate the Spartans defenders and was rewarded for his efforts with the game winning goal.
MF Kieran Eve – TWU
The third-year midfielder from Coquitlam, B.C., was a presence in the middle of the park for the Spartans all night long, playing the full 90 minutes and finishing with three shots and one shot on goal.
WHERE THEY STAND
With the win, the Heat leapfrog the Thomson Rivers WolfPack to move into fourth place in the Pacific division. Meanwhile, the Spartans suffer their second-consecutive loss to open their campaign to sit at the bottom of the division standings.
UP NEXT
UBCO will be back on the road next weekend as they make the trip north to Prince George to take on the UNBC Timberwolves. Game one of the weekend doubleheader is set for Friday, September 6 at 6 p.m. Fans can catch the action live on CanadaWest.tv.
