KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat men's soccer team, playing without five of the regular starters, put up a valiant effort at Nonis Sports Field on Sunday afternoon but fell just short, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Calgary Dinos.
Although there were a number of new faces in the starting 11, two of new players combined early on to give the Heat an early lead.
Rory Clements of New Westminster, B.C., making just his fourth career start, took a lovely pass in the box from
Andrew Matsugu of New Westminster, B.C., who was making just his second career start, and made no mistake just 93 seconds into the game to give the hosts a quick 1-0 lead.
For Clements, the goal was the first of his Heat career while Matsugu earned his first career point.
After the quick start, the two teams settled in before the visitors started tilting the field in their favour. However, the Heat defensive backline, anchored by player of the game
Tavin Williams of Victoria, B.C., and fellow centre back partner
Matteo Clarke of Calgary, managed to hold the Dinos off the scoreboard.
However, in stoppage time of the opening half, the Dinos finally found their breakthrough as Gianmarco Plenzik of Calgary played a perfect ball across the box to Owen Antoniuk of Calgary who made no mistake for his fourth of the season to even the score after 45 minutes.
Antoniuk and the Dinos took the momentum from the goal into the second half and pounced quickly again as Antoniuk found Kimia Kassanda of Aalst, Belgium just four minutes into the half to take a 2-1 lead.
The two teams wouldn't generate much offensively after the goal with the Heat's best chance to even the game coming on a strong solo run from fullback
Mark Perizzolo of Burnaby, B.C., but the Heat couldn't get a shot away and the Dinos would hold on from there to take the win.
TOP PERFORMERS
D Tavin Williams – UBCO
The rookie defender was strong all over the pitch for the Heat, playing solid defence before shifting to the midfield in the second half as the Heat looked for a spark.
MF Owen Antoniuk – Calgary
The third-year diminutive midfielder was a force for the Dinos all afternoon, scoring his fourth goal of the season before adding an assist on the game-winning goal to give him six points in 2024.
WHERE THEY STAND
Despite back-to-back losses at home, the Heat (2-4-2) continue to hold on to fourth place in the Canada West Pacific division. Meanwhile, a strong Calgary (4-1-2) squad keeps pace with the No. 10-ranked Alberta Golden Bears in the Prairie division, sitting in second place.
UP NEXT
The Heat will be back on the road next week as they play just a single game in Alberta against the Lethbridge Pronghorns (2-2-3) on Sunday, September 22. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. PT and fans can catch the action live on CanadaWest.tv.
